Citation

Dansky BS, Byrne CA, Brady KT. Am. J. Drug Alcohol Abuse 1999; 25(2): 257-268.

Affiliation

Medical University of South Carolina, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Center for Drug and Alcohol Programs, Charleston 29425-0742, USA. bonniedansky@smtpw.musc.edu

Copyright

(Copyright © 1999, Informa - Taylor and Francis Group)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

10395159

Abstract

Intimate physical assault and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) were assessed in a sample of 91 adults seeking treatment for cocaine dependence. Physical assault included self-report of aggravated assault with a weapon, aggravated assault without a weapon, and simple assault. PTSD was assessed with a structured interview. Overall, 85.7% of the participants reported having been physically assaulted at least once during their lifetime. Slightly less than half of these individuals (46.2%) reported physical assault by an intimate partner. Close to half also met criteria for PTSD at some point in their lives. Women were more likely than men to be physically assaulted by an intimate partner and to report PTSD. Men who experienced physical assault by an intimate were more likely to report PTSD than men assaulted by others. Male victims of intimate violence had higher scores on certain subscales measuring addiction severity than male victims assaulted by others. Findings suggest careful assessment of intimate violence is essential given its high prevalence among cocaine-dependent women and men and its association with PTSD.

Language: en