Personality Disturbances in Drug‐Dependent Women: Relationship to Childhood Abuse

Abstract

This study examined associations between childhood abuse and personality disturbances in 228 drug‐dependent women. Thirty‐six percent denied abuse, 50% reported emotional, 42% physical, and 42% sexual abuse. Million Clinical Multiarial Inventory (MCMI‐III) scores > 74 provided evidence of personality disturbance and scores on Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory‐2 (MCMI‐2) scales measuring somatic complaints, depression, anxiety and postraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) served as covariates. Emotional and physical abuse survivors were at increased risk for borderline, masochistic, and avoidant disturbances and decreased risk for narcissistic disturbances. Emotional abuse survivors were also less likely to be sadistic whereas physical abuse survivors were more likely to be paranoid. Sexual abuse survivors were twice as likely be antisocial; however, no association was found with borderline personality. Finally, an increased prevalence of severe personality disturbances was observed among those experiencing multiple types of abuse. Childhood trauma predisposes drug‐dependent women to develop troublesome personality characteristics that are independent of drug addiction and other psychological problems associated with childhood trauma.

• Drug dependence
• Women
• Childhood abuse
• Trauma