Abstract
Many women with sexual assault histories receive care in alcohol and other drug treatment programs. Affected women frequently suffer from sexual dysfunction, leading investigators to suggest self-medication may be one path to alcohol and other drug use disorders and relapse. This preliminary study examined sexual dysfunction and sexual assault in 71 women receiving treatment for addiction. Women with prior sexual assault scored higher than non-assaulted women on sexual dysfunction overall, a discrepancy accounted for by higher scores among assaulted women on sexual inhibition subscales. Sexual inhibition and sexual assault each predicted use of alcohol/other drugs to increase sexual desire. These preliminary findings suggest sexually abused women may follow a different course into alcohol/other drug-related problems than non-abused women, possibly including self-medication to relieve sexual inhibition.
Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
