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Childhood abuse and intake severity in alcohol disorder patients
Author(s) -
Zlotnick Caron,
Johnson Dawn M.,
Stout Robert L.,
Zywiak William H.,
Johnson Jennifer E.,
Schneider Robert J.
Publication year - 2006
Publication title -
journal of traumatic stress
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.259
H-Index - 134
eISSN - 1573-6598
pISSN - 0894-9867
DOI - 10.1002/jts.20177
Subject(s) - comorbidity , psychiatry , alcohol use disorder , sexual abuse , alcohol abuse , psychology , poison control , psychiatric comorbidity , injury prevention , physical abuse , alcohol dependence , clinical psychology , substance abuse , conduct disorder , anxiety disorder , suicide prevention , medicine , alcohol , anxiety , medical emergency , biochemistry , chemistry
Abstract In a sample of 336 patients with an alcohol use disorder, this study examined, whether patients with histories of childhood sexual abuse (CSA) and childhood physical abuse (CPA) compared to those without such histories have a greater severity of alcohol and other clinical difficulties. Whether lifetime posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) mediates the relationship between childhood abuse and clinical outcomes was explored. Results were that CSA was associated with earlier age of onset for alcohol disorder, greater Axis I comorbidity as defined by the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fourth Edition (DSM‐IV ; American Psychiatric Association, 1994), more social and psychiatric problems, but lower drinking frequency. Childhood physical abuse was related to greater drinking consequences, social and psychiatric dysfunction, and Axis I comorbidity, but also lower drinking frequency. Posttraumatic stress disorder partially mediated the effect of both CSA and CPA on severity of psychiatric problems.