Childhood traumatic experiences, personality disorders, substance abuse: Prevalence of childhood abuse history and its relationship to psychopathology

Last decade literature shows a growing interest in child abuse and in the role it may play in the development of psychopathology. Subjects with a history of child abuse are more likely to have an increased risk of adult psychopathology: In particular the relationships between sexual and physical abuse and Personality Disorders had been explored. Childhood traumatic experiences (physical, sexual, severe verbal abuse and neglect) are investigated in three different samples of subjects: 116 outpatients in treatment for Alcohol Dependence Disorder. 44 outpatients with a diagnosed Mood Disorder and a last sample of 70 subjects without Axis I diagnoses admitted to a preliminary evaluation for psychotherapy at our unit. The assessment was done using an Italian modified version of Family Experiences Interview. All the subjects were interviewed with the Structured Clinical Interview for DSM IV Axis II Personality Disorders. The study evaluates the prevalence of traumatic histories in the different samples and makes comparisons among them; then, evaluates the relationship of child abuse with Personality Disorders with the aim to contribute to a better understanding of the influence of child abuse on the path to adult psychopathology.