Clinical and Psychosocial Characteristics of Substance-Dependent Pregnant Women With and Without PTSD

The present study compared psychiatric & psychosocial functioning in 123 pregnant opiate- &/or cocaine-dependent women with & without a comorbid diagnosis of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Participants with PTSD reported greater need for psychiatric treatment, were more likely to report a previous suicide attmept, & had more previous drug treatments than participants without PTSD. The findings suggest that pregnant drug-dependent women with comorbid PTSD may benefit from specialized treatment services for trauma &/or abuse issues. (14 refs)