Psychiatric Morbidity in Adult Inpatients With Childhood Histories of Sexual and Physical Abuse

947 patients were interviewed, & abuse history, DSM-III-R diagnosis & other characteristics were recorded. The prevalence of reported childhood abuse was 18% overall. Suicidality was more frequent in abused than nonabused inpatients & was noted in 79% of patients with histories of sexual & physical abuse. Findings emphasize the need for greater attention to family dynamics, aggressive diagnosis & treatment of alcoholism within the family, and determination of patients’ abuse histories.