[Syndrome secondary to traumatic stress (PTSD) and addictive behaviors]

Ninety psychiatric female inpatients had an interview using structural clinical instruments. The patients were often exposed during their lifetime to psychic trauma and especially to sexual abuse in childhood (27%) and rape (21%). Rape is a risk factor for chronicity and severity of mental disorders. Post-traumatic disorders such as PTSD, dissociative disorders, somatoform disorders and borderline-like disorder are linked to rape. Addictive behavior such as alcohol abuse, drugs use, repeated suicide attempts or eating disorders, is also associated with raped patients and especially with those who developed PTSD after rape.