Psychosocial and psychopathology differences in hospitalized male and female cocaine abusers: A retrospective chart review

While considerable amounts of psychological and pharmacological data have been collected on male substance abusers in public treatment facilities, relatively little information is available about the psychosocial characteristics of men in private treatment settings and of women presenting for substance abuse treatment. The present study reviewed the records of 100 male and female cocaine abusers admitted to a private substance abuse treatment program between 1987 and 1989. Patterns of cocaine use and levels of impairment were found to be similar for men and women, with male cocaine abusers more likely to abuse additional substances. Male cocaine abusers were employed more frequently than women and held higher status jobs despite equivalent levels of education. Female cocaine abusers were more likely to be diagnosed with concurrent psychiatric disorders and were more likely to report family histories of substance abuse. Both groups produced elevations on MMPI scales indicating depression, anxiety, paranoid features, and acting-out tendencies. These data suggest that while male and female cocaine abusers show similarities on some measures, there are significant gender differences that may have implications for both research and treatment.