The Role of Sexual Assault and Sexual Dysfunction in Alcohol/Other Drug Use Disorders

Many women with sexual assault histories receive care in alcohol/other drug (AOD) treatment programs. Affected women frequently suffer from sexual dysfunction, leading investigators to suggest self-medication may be one path to AOD 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 nonassaulted 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 the use of alcohol or other drugs to increase sexual desire. These preliminary findings suggest sexually abused women may follow a different course into AOD-related problems than nonabused women, possibly including self-medication to relieve sexual inhibition.