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Windle M., Windle R.C., Scheidt D.M., Miller G.B.
Physical and Sexual Abuse and Associated Mental Disorders Among
Alcoholic Inpatients
Am.J.Psychiatry 152:9 pp. 1322-1328 (1995)
Abstract
Results:
The overall prevalence of reported childhood abuse was 59% for
women and 30% for men. Family history of alcoholism was associated
with higher levels of physical and sexual abuse.
Some Quotes
[...]
Method
Measures
Childhood abuse
History of childhood abuse was based on interview
responses regarding abuse before age 18. Because the criteria for
abuse were conservative, the abuse incidents identified would be
characterized as relatively severe. Physical abuse was defined as a
positive response to a query about experiencing "violent physical
attack that was so violent that it resulted in a fracture or other
physical injury requiring hospital treatment; not referring to a
single incident of a slap." Sexual abuse was defined as a positive
response to a query about experiencing "incidents in which the other
person either touched you or demanded that you touch him/her in sexual
ways, or forced himself/herself on you sexually". [...]
Discussion
Lifetime suicide attempts were also
predicted by abuse status variables (physical abuse only for men and
dual abuse for both men and women). These findings are consistent with
the literature (1,5) and highlight the potential impulsive,
self-destructive nature of some adult behaviors associated with
childhood abuse. Dual abuse was an especially potent predictor,
increasing the probability of a suicide attempt almost fivefold among
male and female alcoholics. Similarly, Brown and Anderson (1) found
that 79% of the dually abused psychiatric patients in their study
reported suicidal thoughts or behavior.