Recorded presentation

Tonya Edmond, PhD and ManSoo Yu, MSW, MA. George Warren Brown School of Social Work, Washington University, One Brookings Dr. Campus Box 1196, St. Louis, MO 63130-4899, 314-935-8131, tee1@wustl.edu

Although there is extensive empirical evidence of the co-occurrence of alcohol/drug abuse and mental health problems among male perpetrators of domestic violence, such comorbidity among abused women is rarely studied. This study examines the presence of the comorbidity of substance abuse with PTSD and/or depression, and the association between domestic violence severity and this comorbidity. A sample of 50 female domestic violence survivors was obtained from a legal advocacy program located in the Mid-West. In this cross-sectional descriptive study, several modules from the Diagnostic Interview Schedule were administrated during a face-to-face interview to assess for the prevalence of lifetime depression, PTSD, alcohol abuse, and drug abuse. In addition, severity of domestic violence experienced was assessed with the Composite Abuse Scale. The findings revealed that 74% of the sample met criteria for lifetime depression, 46% for lifetime PTSD, and 34% for lifetime alcohol/drug abuse. In terms of comorbidity, 28% of the sample reported lifetime depression or PTSD comorbid with alcohol/drug abuse. Bivariate analyses showed that alcohol or drug abusing battered women, who had comorbid depression or PTSD, had significantly more emotional and physical abuse in their domestic violence experiences than those who did not have such comorbidity. These findings suggest that comorbidity should be assessed for and incorporated into intervention and prevention plans for abused women.

Learning Objectives:

Session participants will gain knowledge about
• the prevalence of the comorbidity of substance abuse with mental health problems among abused women; and
• the association between domestic violence severity and comorbidity.

Keywords: Co-morbid, Domestic Violence

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.

Recorded presentation