title: Postpsychotic posttraumatic stress disorder: associations with fear of recurrence and intolerance of uncertainty.
abstract: Experiencing psychosis can be sufficiently distressing to precipitate symptoms of postpsychotic posttraumatic stress disorder (PP-PTSD). The current research sought to investigate potential associations that PP-PTSD had with the Fear of Recurrence Scale and the Intolerance of Uncertainty Scale. Twenty-seven individuals diagnosed with DSM-IV Schizophrenia and adjudged to be distressed by their experience of psychosis were recruited by referral to the study. The Clinician Administered PTSD Scale was used to assess participants for PP-PTSD. Clinical rating scales (PANSS, HADS, and IES-R) and measures assessing appraisals of paranoia and hallucinatory voices (BAPS and IVI) were also employed. The prevalence rate of PP-PTSD in the sample was 37%. PP-PTSD caseness was associated with being fearful about psychosis recurring, being intolerant of uncertainty, and making negative appraisals of paranoia. Logistical regression analyses indicated that fear of recurrence was a significant predictor of PP-PTSD caseness. The implications of these results for understanding how fear and worry processes might influence emotional adaptation following psychosis are discussed.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychological Medicine, Gartnavel Royal Hospital, The University of Glasgow, Glasgow G13 1BP, Lanarkshire, United Kingdom. Ross.White@clinmed.gla.ac.uk
authors.forename: Ross G
authors.initials: RG
authors.lastname: White
authors.forename: Andrew I
authors.initials: AI
authors.lastname: Gumley
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001007:Anxiety / Q000150:complications / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000523:psychology; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005239:Fear / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales / Q000592:standards; D011618:Psychotic Disorders / Q000150:complications / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000523:psychology*; D055502:Secondary Prevention; D013313:Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic / Q000150:complications / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000523:psychology*; D035501:Uncertainty; D055815:Young Adult