Does Typography of Substance Abuse and Dependence Differ as a Function of Exposure to Child Maltreatment?

Abstract

We investigated the link between child maltreatment, including child sexual assault (CSA) and child physical assault (CPA), and addiction-related symptomatology in a subsample of adolescents from the National Survey of Adolescents, all of whom met DSM-IV criteria for substance abuse or dependence (n=281). Over 60% of the sample reported a history of CSA and/or CPA. Results indicated significant differences in typography of substance abuse and dependence symptoms and rates of comorbid lifetime PTSD based on assault history, specific assault incident characteristics, and sex. Clinical implications for substance abusing youth with maltreatment histories are discussed.

Figure 1

Percent of the full sample (N=281) endorsing lifetime use of alcohol and each type of drug. Note: **denotes p<.001, *denotes p<.01.

Figure 2

Percent of youth, depicted by assault history group, who endorsed each alcohol or drug abuse symptom. Note: **denotes p<.001, *denotes p<.01.

Figure 3

Percent of youth, depicted by assault history group, who endorsed each alcohol dependence symptom. Note: **denotes p<.001, *denotes p<.01.

Figure 4

Percent of youth, depicted by assault history group, who endorsed each drug dependence symptom. Note: **denotes p<.001, *denotes p<.01.

Figure 5

Percent of female participants, depicted by assault history group, who endorsed each drug dependence symptom. Note: **denotes p<.001, *denotes p<.01.

Figure 6

Percent of male participants, depicted by assault history group, who endorsed each drug dependence symptom. Note: **denotes p<.001, *denotes p<.01.