Impact of psychological trauma on the development of psychotic symptoms: relationship with psychosis proneness.
BACKGROUND
The reported link between psychological trauma and onset of psychosis remains controversial.


OBJECTIVE
To examine associations between self-reported psychological trauma and psychotic symptoms as a function of prior evidence of vulnerability to psychosis (psychosis proneness).


METHODS
At baseline, 2524 adolescents aged 14-24 years provided self-reports on psychological trauma and psychosis proneness, and at follow-up (on average 42 months later) participants were interviewed for presence of psychotic symptoms.


RESULTS
Self-reported trauma was associated with psychotic symptoms, in particular at more severe levels (adjusted OR 1.89, 95% CI1.16-3.08) and following trauma associated with intense fear, helplessness or horror. The risk difference between those with and without self-reported trauma at baseline was 7% in the group with baseline psychosis proneness, but only 1.8% in those without (adjusted test for difference between these two effect sizes: chi2=4.6, P=0.032).


CONCLUSIONS
Exposure to psychological trauma may increase the risk of psychotic symptoms in people vulnerable to psychosis.
Spauwen
Janneke
J
Department of Psychiatry and Neuropsychology, Maastricht University, PO Box 616 (DRT 10), 6200 MD Maastricht, The Netherlands.
Krabbendam
Lydia
L
Lieb
Roselind
R
Wittchen
Hans-Ulrich
HU
van Os
Jim
J
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D004198:Disease Susceptibility; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D011618:Psychotic Disorders / Q000209:etiology*; D012307:Risk Factors; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000523:psychology*; D014947:Wounds and Injuries / Q000523:psychology*