Differences in early onset alcohol use and heavy drinking among persons with childhood and adulthood trauma.
We examined predictors for age at onset of first alcohol use and onset of heaviest alcohol use among men (n = 43) and women (n = 46) with alcohol dependence and PTSD, PTSD only, alcohol dependence only, and controls, with a particular focus on individuals with child versus adult trauma. Using analysis of variance procedures, results showed differences in onset of first alcohol use and heaviest drinking between childhood and adulthood trauma victims. These preliminary results indicate that behavioral mechanisms associated with alcohol use patterns between individuals with childhood and adulthood trauma are dissimilar, suggesting greater psychopathological consequences for individuals with childhood trauma.
Clinical Neuroscience Division, Department of Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston 29425, USA. waldrop@musc.edu
Angela E
AE
Waldrop
Elizabeth J Santa
EJ
Ana
Michael E
ME
Saladin
Aimee L
AL
McRae
Kathleen T
KT
Brady
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D017668:Age of Onset; D000428:Alcohol Drinking / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology*; D000437:Alcoholism / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology; D015897:Comorbidity; D035061:Control Groups; D039721:Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008016:Life Change Events; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011336:Probability; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D002666:Psychology, Child; D013313:Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology; D017741:Survivors / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data