Are experiences of sexual violence related to special needs in patients with substance use disorders? A study in opioid-dependent patients

TY - JOUR

T1 - Are experiences of sexual violence related to special needs in patients with substance use disorders? A study in opioid-dependent patients

AU - Schäfer, Ingo

AU - Gromus, Lil

AU - Atabaki, Armita

AU - Pawils, Silke

AU - Verthein, Uwe

AU - Reimer, Jens

AU - Schulte, Bernd

AU - Martens, Marcus

N1 - Copyright © 2014 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

PY - 2014/12/1

Y1 - 2014/12/1

N2 - A history of sexual violence has been related to more complex treatment needs in patients with substance use disorders (SUD). Most of the existing studies, however, included patients with various types of SUD, did not examine gender differences and focused on a small range of clinical domains. Our sample consisted of opioid-dependent outpatients treated during a three-year period in a German metropolitan region. The analysis was based on a local case register and included all patients for whom information on lifetime sexual violence was available (N=3531; 68.3% males). In a case-control design, patients with a history of sexual violence were compared to patients without these experiences regarding a wide range of clinical and social factors indicative of potential needs. Almost two thirds (65.6%) of the female patients and 10.9% of the males reported experiences of sexual violence. Victims differed from non-victims across a variety of domains, including more psychiatric symptoms and suicide attempts, more legal problems, financial and family problems, as well as a higher use of services. In contrast to a previous study among alcohol-dependent patients, no gender differences became apparent. Our findings suggest that experiences of sexual violence are an indicator for more complex needs in opioid-dependent patients of both genders. In addition to integrated trauma-informed approaches, an effort needs to be made to link addiction facilities to further institutions to meet these complex needs.

AB - A history of sexual violence has been related to more complex treatment needs in patients with substance use disorders (SUD). Most of the existing studies, however, included patients with various types of SUD, did not examine gender differences and focused on a small range of clinical domains. Our sample consisted of opioid-dependent outpatients treated during a three-year period in a German metropolitan region. The analysis was based on a local case register and included all patients for whom information on lifetime sexual violence was available (N=3531; 68.3% males). In a case-control design, patients with a history of sexual violence were compared to patients without these experiences regarding a wide range of clinical and social factors indicative of potential needs. Almost two thirds (65.6%) of the female patients and 10.9% of the males reported experiences of sexual violence. Victims differed from non-victims across a variety of domains, including more psychiatric symptoms and suicide attempts, more legal problems, financial and family problems, as well as a higher use of services. In contrast to a previous study among alcohol-dependent patients, no gender differences became apparent. Our findings suggest that experiences of sexual violence are an indicator for more complex needs in opioid-dependent patients of both genders. In addition to integrated trauma-informed approaches, an effort needs to be made to link addiction facilities to further institutions to meet these complex needs.

U2 - 10.1016/j.addbeh.2014.07.008

DO - 10.1016/j.addbeh.2014.07.008

M3 - SCORING: Journal article

C2 - 25117843

VL - 39

SP - 1691

EP - 1694

JO - ADDICT BEHAV

JF - ADDICT BEHAV

SN - 0306-4603

IS - 12

ER -