Alcohol-involved assault and the course of PTSD in female crime victims.
Although alcohol use has been associated with increased risk of victimization, little is known about how victim substance use at the time of assault may affect posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptom development. The present study is a longitudinal examination of substance use on PTSD symptom severity and course. A community sample of female crime victims (n = 60) were assessed within 5 weeks of sexual or physical assault with 3 and 6 month post-assault follow-ups. Twenty-three participants had consumed alcohol or alcohol/drugs prior to the assault (38%) and 37 had consumed neither alcohol nor drugs. Analyses were conducted using hierarchical linear modeling. Participants who had consumed alcohol had lower initial intrusive symptoms, but their symptoms improved less over time.
Kaysen
Debra L
DL
Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of Washington, 1100 NE 45th Street, Seattle, WA 98195, USA. dkaysen@u.washington.edu
Lindgren
Kristen P
KP
Lee
Christine M
CM
Lewis
Melissa A
MA
Fossos
Nicole
N
Atkins
David C
DC
D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000328:Adult; D000435:Alcoholic Intoxication / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology*; D019548:Crime Victims / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D011902:Rape / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D013223:Statistics as Topic; D013313:Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology*; D014754:Violence / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D014947:Wounds and Injuries / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology; D055815:Young Adult