[Origins of addictive behavior: evidence from a study of stressful chilhood experiences].
A population-based analysis of over 17,000 middle-class American adults undergoing comprehensive, biopsychosocial medical evaluation indicates that three common categories of addiction are strongly related in a proportionate manner to several specific categories of adverse experiences during childhood. This, coupled with related information, suggests that the basic cause of addiction is predominantly experience-dependent during childhood and not substance-dependent. This challenge to the usual concept of the cause of addictions has significant implications for medical practice and for treatment programs.
Felitti
Vincent J
VJ
Department of Preventive Medicine, Kaiser Permanente Medical Care Program, 7060 Clairemont Mesa Boulevard, San Diego, CA 92111, USA.
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D032721:Adult Children / Q000523:psychology*; D000368:Aged; D000437:Alcoholism / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology*; D002140:California; D002648:Child; D002908:Chronic Disease; D002658:Developmental Disabilities / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010553:Personality Development; D012307:Risk Factors; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000150:complications*; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology*