Comparison of drug use and psychiatric morbidity between prostitute and non-prostitute female drug users in Glasgow, Scotland

Gilchrist, G., Gruer, L. and Atkinson, J. (2005) Comparison of drug use and psychiatric morbidity between prostitute and non-prostitute female drug users in Glasgow, Scotland. Addictive Behaviors, 30(5), pp. 1019-1023. (doi: 10.1016/j.addbeh.2004.09.003) (PMID:15893098)

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Abstract

Aims: To compare psychiatric morbidity between 176 female drug users with lifetime involvement in prostitution (prostitutes) and 89 female drug users with no involvement (non-prostitutes) in Glasgow, Scotland. Method: The Revised Clinical Interview Schedule (CIS-R) measured current neurotic symptoms. Results: Prostitutes were more likely to report adult physical (OR 1.8) or sexual abuse (OR 2.4), to have attempted suicide (OR 1.7) and to meet criteria for current depressive ideas (OR 1.8) than non-prostitutes. Seventy-two percent of prostitutes and sixty-seven percent of non-prostitutes met criteria for a level of current neurotic symptoms likely to need treatment (CIS-R ≥18). Being in foster care (OR 8.9), being prescribed medication for emotional problems in the last 30 days (OR 7.7), adult sexual abuse (OR 4.5), poly drug use in the last 30 days (OR 3.6) and adult physical abuse (OR 2.6) were significantly associated with a CIS-R score of ≥18 for prostitutes using multiple logistic regression. Conclusions: Higher rates of adulthood abuse among prostitutes may explain the greater proportion of prostitutes than non-prostitutes meeting criteria for current depressive ideas and lifetime suicide attempts.

Item Type:Articles
Keywords:Prostitution, drug use, sexual abuse, physical abuse, neurotic symptoms, psychiatric morbidity.
Status:Published
Refereed:Yes
Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID:Atkinson, Professor Jacqueline
Authors: Gilchrist, G., Gruer, L., and Atkinson, J.
Subjects:R Medicine > RA Public aspects of medicine
H Social Sciences > HM Sociology
H Social Sciences > HV Social pathology. Social and public welfare
R Medicine > RC Internal medicine > RC0321 Neuroscience. Biological psychiatry. Neuropsychiatry
College/School:College of Medical Veterinary and Life Sciences > School of Medicine, Dentistry & Nursing > Clinical Specialities
Journal Name:Addictive Behaviors
Publisher:Elsevier
ISSN:0306-4603
ISSN (Online):1873-6327
Published Online:18 October 2004
Copyright Holders:Copyright © 2005 Elsevier
First Published:First published in Addictive Behaviors 30(5):1019-1023
Publisher Policy:Reproduced in accordance with the copyright policy of the publisher.

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