Posttraumatic stress disorder as a reaction to the experience of psychosis and its sequelae

Abstract

The potentially distressing nature of both the symptoms of psychosis and its treatment (i.e., hospitalisation) can have a traumatic impact upon the individual. This pilot study investigates this relationship in 20 outpatients hospitalised for psychosis within the past year. All participated in a research interview. Five participants (25%) met criteria for Post-Psychotic PTSD. Overall trauma levels were related significantly to the total number of different types of previous traumatic events experienced, the distress associated with police conveyance to their most recent psychiatric hospitalisation, and the total number of experiences related to harm to self/others during their most recent hospitalisation. The implications of these findings are discussed.

Keywords:

• Psychosis
• PTSD
• trauma
• hospitalisation