title: Patterns of lifetime female victimisation and psychotic experiences: a study based on the UK Adult Psychiatric Morbidity Survey 2007.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Research has shown that sexual trauma represents a specific threat for psychosis, particularly among females. Sexual trauma among females, however, has also been shown to enhance the risk for further revictimisation. Females are likely to exhibit distinct lifetime trauma profiles, i.e. female sexual trauma victims are often more likely to experience particular forms of re-victimisation, such as intimate partner and domestic violence.
  
  
  METHODS
  This study used data from the Adult Psychiatric Morbidity Survey (2007) to profile lifetime histories of sexual trauma and domestic violence among female participants (N = 4,111).
  
  
  RESULTS
  The latent class analysis revealed four lifetime victimisation classes: (i) a multiple victimisation class; (ii) an intimate partner victimisation class; (iii) a sexual victimisation class; and (iv) a victimisation-free class. Multivariate logistic regression revealed that there was a strong association between class membership and a diagnosis of psychosis and that the victimisation classes were significantly associated with all psychotic-like experiences. Compared to the victimisation-free class, the multiple victimisation class displayed an increased likelihood of experiencing all psychotic experiences except mania. The intimate partner victimisation class was also associated with an increased likelihood of experiencing all psychotic experiences; however, the odds ratios for this class were lower than those recorded for the multiple victimisation class.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These findings reflect female-specific variation in both victimisation history and psychosis-related vulnerability. Acknowledging such sex-specific variation may advance our understanding of the complex associations that continue to emerge between trauma and psychosis for both males and females.
authors.affiliation: School of Psychology, University of Ulster at Magee, Londonderry, BT48 7JL, Northern Ireland, UK. m.shevlin@ulster.ac.uk
authors.forename: Mark
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Shevlin
authors.forename: Tara
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: O'Neill
authors.forename: James E
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Houston
authors.forename: John
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Read
authors.forename: Richard P
authors.initials: RP
authors.lastname: Bentall
authors.forename: Jamie
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Murphy
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D019548:Crime Victims / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D007398:Interpersonal Relations; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011618:Psychotic Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology; D012307:Risk Factors; D012747:Sexual Partners; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D006113:United Kingdom / Q000453:epidemiology; D014754:Violence / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D035862:Vulnerable Populations