A Clinical Profile of Women With Posttraumatic Stress Disorder and Substance Dependence

To assess the clinical characteristics of women with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) & substance dependence, 28 women with both disorders were compared with 29 women with PTSD alone on a wide battery of lifetime & current clinical measures. The dual-diagnosis women consistently had a more severe clinical profile, including worse life conditions; greater criminal behaviour; a higher number of suicide attempts; a greater number having a sibling with a drug problem; and fewer outpatient psychiatric treatments. One discrepant finding was their lower rate of major depression. The 2 groups did not differ in number or type of lifetime traumas, PTSD onset or severity, family history of substance use; coping style, functioning level, psychiatric symptoms, or sociodemographic characteristics. (28 refs)