The association between traumatic experience, paranoia and hallucinations: a test of the predictions of psychological models.
OBJECTIVE
The current study investigated the relationship between trauma and predisposition to hallucinations and to paranoia in a non-clinical sample.


METHODS
A total of 228 students completed online measures of trauma, post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), schematic beliefs, perceptual anomalies, and predisposition to hallucinations and paranoia.


RESULTS
Associations were found between negative schematic beliefs, PTSD and predisposition to both paranoia and hallucinations. PTSD reexperiencing-symptoms were most strongly associated with a predisposition to hallucinations. Negative beliefs about self and others were most strongly associated with a predisposition to paranoia.


CONCLUSIONS
The results provide support for the prediction that there may be two routes between trauma and predisposition to psychosis. Clear support was found for a link between trauma and psychosis mediated by negative beliefs about self and others. There may also be a direct association between re-experiencing symptoms and hallucinations.
Gracie
A
A
King's College London, Department of Psychology, Institute of Psychiatry, London, UK.
Freeman
D
D
Green
S
S
Garety
P A
PA
Kuipers
E
E
Hardy
A
A
Ray
K
K
Dunn
G
G
Bebbington
P
P
Fowler
D
D
D000328:Adult; D002648:Child; D002649:Child Abuse / Q000523:psychology; D019548:Crime Victims / Q000523:psychology; D003469:Culture; D003702:Delusions / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D006212:Hallucinations / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology*; D006801:Humans; D007398:Interpersonal Relations; D008016:Life Change Events; D008297:Male; D008960:Models, Psychological; D010259:Paranoid Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology*; D010555:Personality Inventory; D011618:Psychotic Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology; D012016:Reference Values; D012307:Risk Factors; D012649:Self Concept; D012938:Social Perception; D013223:Statistics as Topic; D013313:Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology*; D013334:Students / Q000523:psychology