Objectives: The present studies point to high, i.e., approx. 70%, presence of at least one traumatic event over the life of people addicted to alcohol.
Methods: The study involved 240 people - 120 people were addicted to alcohol (clinical group), including 60 women and 60 men, and 120 people were not addicted to alcohol (control group), including 60 women and 60 men. All people from the study group were asked to complete: The TAA-SR traumatic events assessment questionnaire, the structured interview checking the presence of experienced trauma and the severity of post-traumatic symptoms (PTSD) according to DSM-IV, and the personal survey.
Results: People addicted to alcohol experienced more traumas than non-addicted ones. The number of traumas of addicted women was significantly lower compared to addicted men. People addicted to alcohol reported the first experience of trauma much faster than non-addicted ones. The vast majority of people from the clinical group (addicted individuals) declared that the addiction symptoms occurred after experiencing the first trauma.
Conclusions: The present studies point to high, i.e., approx. 70%, presence of at least one traumatic event over the life of people addicted to alcohol.
Keywords: alcohol addiction; trauma; traumatic event.