Research article summary (published 30 Mar 2008):

PTSD symptom clusters are differentially related to substance use among community women exposed to intimate partner violence.

Full Abstract

Women who experience intimate partner violence (IPV) have higher rates of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and substance abuse compared to women who do not experience IPV. However, the extent to which IPV-related PTSD symptoms are related to women's substance use involvement largely has been unexplored. The current study investigated PTSD symptomatology and substance use in a community sample of 212 IPV-exposed women. Drug-using women reported higher PTSD severity scores compared to women who reported no substance use or alcohol use only. Moreover, the reexperiencing, avoidance and numbing, and arousal clusters demonstrated unique associations with substance use involvement. Findings not only elucidate the associations among IPV-related PTSD symptoms and substance use, but they also can inform community-based preventive interventions.

Author information

Author/s: Sullivan, Tami P (TP); Holt, Laura J (LJ);

Affiliation: Division of Prevention and Community Research, Department of Psychiatry, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06511, USA. tami.sullivan(-atsign-)yale.edu

Grants: K23 DA019561 (Agency:NIDA NIH HHS) ; R03 DA17668 (Agency:NIDA NIH HHS)

Journal and publication information

Publication Type: Comparative Study; Journal Article; Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural

Journal: Journal of traumatic stress (J Trauma Stress), published in United States. (Language: eng)

Reference: 2008-Apr; vol 21 (issue 2) : pp 173-80

Dates: Created 2008/04/17; Completed 2008/08/08;

PMID: 18404637, status: MEDLINE (last retrieved date: 2/18/2009)

Sourced from the National Library of Medicine. Abstract text and other information may be subject to copyright.

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MeSH headings (categories)

This article was linked to the MeSH Headings (categories) shown below.

Adult Alcohol Drinking - epidemiology; psychology Battered Women - psychology; statistics & numerical data Child Child Abuse - psychology; statistics & numerical data Comorbidity Crime Victims - psychology; statistics & numerical data Data Collection - statistics & numerical data Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders Female Humans

Life Change Events Personality Inventory - statistics & numerical data Prevalence Psychiatric Status Rating Scales - statistics & numerical data Questionnaires Severity of Illness Index Sex Offenses - psychology; statistics & numerical data Sexual Partners - psychology Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic - diagnosis; epidemiology; psychology Substance-Related Disorders - diagnosis; epidemiology; psychology Violence - psychology; statistics & numerical data

Note: Bold headings indicate primary MeSH headings or qualifiers.

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