Trauma experienced throughout a lifetime increase the risk of alcohol dependence, particularly in women. However, few studies have investigated the addiction and psychopathological impact of these histories of trauma.

The objective was to compare two groups of alcohol-dependent women, with and without a history of trauma, in terms of addiction and psychopathological characteristics.

The addiction (duration of dependence, quantity of alcohol consumed, any associated dependence) and psychopathological characteristics (history of trauma, psychiatric comorbidities, depression score, anxiety score, dissociation and alexithymia) was assessed by semi-structured interview and standardized scales.

Traumatized women consumed significantly more alcohol (18 drinks vs. 12 drinks, P=0.04) and preferred stronger alcohol [79% of the traumatized group drank daily and predominantly strong spirits versus 42% in the non-traumatized group (P=0.02)]. Traumatized women presented a significantly higher prevalence of mental illness (1.86 mental illnesses vs. 0.92, P=0.05), particularly anxiety disorders. Both groups presented a high alexithymic tendency. Traumatized women had a higher dissociative tendency with and without alcohol. They presented more pathological dissociation under the influence of alcohol than non-traumatized women (56% of traumatized women vs. 15% of non-traumatized women, P=0.02). This difference was not significant in the absence of alcohol (19% vs. 0%, P=0.1).

We propose the hypothesis that, by drinking strong alcohol traumatized women try to accentuate their dissociative tendencies via chemical dissociation. Unfortunately, this defence mechanism is destructive. Systematic screening for a history of trauma in alcohol-dependent women is important in order to propose management adapted to their specific psychopathological profile.