Psychological assessment (MMPI-2) of male African-American substance-abusing patients with and without histories of childhood physical abuse.

Twenty-nine drug addicted patients in a VA substance abuse program with a history of childhood physical abuse were compared to 29 drug addicted patients without a history of childhood abuse, using the MMPI-2 as a measure of personality traits and functioning. Drug addicted patients with an abuse history showed psychological maladjustment on almost all measures and at greater levels of intensity and severity than the nonabused group. We conclude that drug addicted patients who have been abused represent a unique subset of the drug addicted population and may require targeted psychological treatment for residual problems associated with childhood abuse. This may then also improve the efficacy of substance abuse treatment as well.