Background: Studies show high use of alcohol among American women who are victims of intimate partner violence (IPV), but not in Spanish victims. This study examines hazardous drinking, use of psychotropic substances, and the relationship with psychopathological symptoms in Spanish women who are victims of IPV.
Method: 50 battered women and 50 control women from general population were assessed.
Results: Hazardous drinking in women victims of IPV (18.4% and 24.5%) was higher than in previous Spanish studies, and lower than in controls (no significant difference). Women victims of IPV showed a significantly higher use of psychotropic medication than controls (40% vs. 20%). For women victims of IPV, psychopathological symptoms were not related to use of alcohol, but use of psychotropic medication was related to post-traumatic arousal.
Conclusions: Results suggest that Spanish women victims of IPV may resort to psychotropic medication rather than alcohol to cope with their symptoms.