NCJ Number
188778
Journal
Journal of Child and Adolescent Substance Abuse Volume: 10 Issue: 2 Dated: 2000 Pages: 81-92
Editor(s)
Vincent B. Van Hasselt Ph.D.,
Brad Donohue Ph.D.
Date Published
2000
Length
12 pages
Annotation
This study assessed whether differences existed in the levels of psychological distress in abused, chemically dependent adolescents when compared to their non-abused counterparts and compared to a group of non-abused, non-chemically dependent adolescents.
Abstract
Prior research identified physical and sexual abuse as prevalent in both adult and adolescent substance use disorder populations. This study focused on the psychological distress level differences in physically and/or sexually abused chemically dependent adolescents when compared to their non-abused and non-chemically dependent corresponding groups. The data consisted of 150 cases of physical and sexual abuse identified through a questionnaire and interview data from a short-term, adolescent, chemical dependency treatment center. The SCL-90-R multi-dimensional, self-report symptom inventory was used to measure psychological distress. Results confirmed that psychological distress was more prevalent in victims of abuse. The study suggested that higher levels of psychological distress might alert clinicians to the possibilities of physical or sexual abuse victimization. The study also revealed that there were non-significant differences between the abused group victims suggesting that psychological distress was similar regardless of the type of abuse that was experienced. The study recommended that future research focus on questions of the degree of psychological distress over time, and where abused adolescents come from homes of parental substance use disorders, a study be conducted on the impact of the abuse in comparison to non-chemically dependent abusive families. Tables and references