Psychopathology in substance abusing women reporting childhood sexual abuse

This study compared MMPI-2 profiles and evaluated the ability of the MMPI-2 and its two new post-traumatic stress scales (PK and PS) to discriminate w omen in outpatient substance abuse treatment reporting positive (n = 24) an d negative (n = 69) child sexual abuse histories. T-tests revealed signific antly higher mean scores for the sexual abuse group for the following scale s: F; 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 7, and 8. A discriminant analysis yielded a linear fun ction of L, F, 3, 5, 8, and PK that correctly categorized 75% with positive histories and 77% with negative histories. The optimal cutoff PK score was 17, which correctly classified 75% and 46% of those reporting positive and negative abuse histories, respectively. These findings support early ident ification of abuse survivors among substance abusing women and suggests tha t, the MMPI-2 may be useful in patient-treatment matching. [Article copies available for a fee from The Haworth Document Delivery Service: 1-800-342-9 678. E-mail address: getinfo@hawthortpressinc.com <Website: http://www.hawo rthpressinc.com>].