Sexual abuse, physical abuse, and posttraumatic stress disorder among women participating in outpatient drug abuse treatment

Findings from a prospective, longitudinal study of 182 women and 148 men in outpatient drug abuse treatment programs indicate that women are significantly more likely than men to experience sexual and physical abuse. Sexual and physical abuse are associated with higher levels of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptomatology. Moreover, women are more likely than men to possess an array of psychological factors that predict relapse to drug use after treatment, including low self-esteem, depression, anxiety, and suicidal behavior, among others. But contrary to expectation, PTSD is not associated with relapse to drug use, nor are women more likely than men to relapse within a six-month posttreatment interval. Further analysis indicates that while women have more psychological risk factors associated with relapse, they are also more likely than men to engage in the treatment process. Engagement in treatment, notably frequent participation in group counseling, appears to mitigate the higher risk of relapse for women.