title: Sexual abuse history and treatment outcomes among women undergoing methadone treatment.
abstract: Women entering drug abuse treatment programs who report a history of sexual abuse are also likely to report poorer psychosocial functioning, more drug-related problems, and more family-of-origin problems. This study investigates outcome differences at follow-up between women with and those without sexual abuse histories who were treated at an outpatient methadone treatment program. Follow-up interviews were conducted with 98 women, 40% of whom reported prior sexual abuse. Those with a history of sexual abuse who reported problems at intake with psychosocial functioning and family support continued to report such problems at follow-up as compared with the women without a history of sexual abuse. However, no difference was found at follow-up between women with and those without sexual abuse histories in terms of drug use, employment, criminality, or HIV-risky behaviors. The findings suggest that sexual abuse history alone cannot predict treatment outcomes for women in methadone treatment. The implications of these findings are discussed in terms of treatment process and services.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Behavioral Research, Texas Christian University, Fort Worth, TX, USA. n.bartholomew@tcu.edu
authors.forename: Norma G
authors.initials: NG
authors.lastname: Bartholomew
authors.forename: Katherine
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Courtney
authors.forename: Grace A
authors.initials: GA
authors.lastname: Rowan-Szal
authors.forename: D Dwayne
authors.initials: DD
authors.lastname: Simpson
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008691:Methadone / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D009293:Opioid-Related Disorders / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology*; D012742:Sex Offenses / Q000523:psychology*; D013781:Texas / Q000453:epidemiology; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D008691:Methadone