Gender Differences in Patients with Substance Use Disorder and Physical/Sexual Abuse: A Preliminary Study

Abstract

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