Childhood trauma in alcoholics.
OBJECTIVE
Many studies have been conducted to evaluate the relationship between childhood trauma and alcoholism. In this study 80 alcoholics were chosen according to their hospitalization order. The control group consisted of 60 subjects, with no history of alcohol use, matched with the patient group in age and sex.


METHODS
A sociodemographic and clinical data form, a questionnaire focusing on traumatic life experiences in childhood and The Childhood Trauma Questionnaire, Hamilton Depression Rating Scale, and Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale were applied to both groups.


RESULTS
Significant differences were found between the two groups on traumatic life experiences in childhood. Results suggested that childhood trauma positively correlates with anxiety and affective symptoms among alcoholics.


CONCLUSIONS
Further studies are needed concerning this issue.
Department of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, Maltepe University, Istanbul, Turkey. hmirsal@superonline.com
Hasan
H
Mirsal
Ayhan
A
Kalyoncu
Ozkan
O
Pektaş
Devran
D
Tan
Mansur
M
Beyazyürek
D000328:Adult; D000437:Alcoholism / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology*; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D002648:Child; D002649:Child Abuse / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008016:Life Change Events; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010287:Parent-Child Relations; D012189:Retrospective Studies