Abstract

HARO, Begoña; FERNANDEZ-MONTALVO, Javier; ARTEAGA, Alfonso  and  LOPEZ-GONI, José J. Gender differences in patients with substance use disorder and physical/sexual abuse: a preliminary study. Clínica y Salud [online]. 2023, vol.34, n.3, pp.123-130.  Epub Mar 18, 2024. ISSN 2174-0550.  https://dx.doi.org/10.5093/clysa2023a12.

Aim: To explore the differential characteristics in sociodemographic variables, severity of consumption, psychopathological symptomatology, life maladjustment, trauma characteristics, and post-traumatic stress symptomatology between women and men who seek treatment for substance use disorder (SUD) and have experienced lifetime physical and/or sexual abuse. Method: The sample consisted of 26 women and 31 men who had experienced physical/sexual abuse and sought treatment for SUD. Results: Women had been victims of sexual abuse in a significantly higher percentage than men. Women presented a significantly higher frequency of revictimization to another traumatic event and a significantly higher presence of avoidance symptoms than men. Conclusions: This study supports the existence of a more severe profile in women than in men with SUD who have experienced lifetime physical and/or sexual abuse. Consequently, gender-related trauma-informed practice in SUD treatment programmes should be promoted. More research in this field is needed, as this is a preliminary study.

Keywords : Substance use disorder; Lifetime abuse; Psychopathology; Gender differences; Assessment.

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