Childhood maltreatment is one such factor. Prior epidemiological studies (Kessler et al. 1997; Anda et al. 2006; Dube et al. 2006; McLaughlin et al. 2010) suggest that any of the five types of childhood maltreatment [sexual abuse, physical abuse, emotional abuse, emotional neglect and physical neglect (Butchart et al. 2006)] are associated with alcohol dependence. However, no study has provided nationally representative information on the relationship between all five childhood maltreatments and adult alcohol dependence (Kessler et al. 1997; Sher et al. 1997; Anda et al. 2006; Dube et al. 2006; McLaughlin et al. 2010). Subsequently, several issues may have led to inaccuracies in our understanding of the role of childhood maltreatments in the risk for alcohol dependence.
