title: Hallucinations in the months after a trauma: An investigation of the role of cognitive processing of a physical assault in the occurrence of hallucinatory experiences.
abstract: The role that cognitive processing of a recent trauma has in the occurrence of hallucinations has not been examined longitudinally. This study investigated trauma-related cognitive predictors of hallucinations in the months following an interpersonal assault. Four weeks after treatment at an emergency department for interpersonal assault injuries, 106 participants were assessed for peri-traumatic cognitive processing, cognitive responses to trauma memories, negative beliefs about the self, Posttraumatic-stress disorder (PTSD), and hallucinatory experiences. Hallucinatory experiences were reassessed six months later. Cognitive processing during trauma (lack of self-referential processing, and dissociation), beliefs about permanent negative change, self-vulnerability, and self-blame and cognitive response styles (thought suppression, rumination, and numbing) were significant predictors of later hallucinations. The way in which trauma is processed may partly determine the occurrence of hallucinations.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, University of Oxford, Warneford Hospital, Oxford OX3 7JX, UK. Electronic address: georgina.geddes@psych.ox.ac.uk.
authors.forename: Georgina
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Geddes
authors.affiliation: Department of Experimental Psychology, Tinbergen Building, 9 South Parks Rd, Oxford OX1 3UD, UK.
authors.forename: Anke
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ehlers
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, University of Oxford, Warneford Hospital, Oxford OX3 7JX, UK.
authors.forename: Daniel
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Freeman
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006212:Hallucinations / Q000209:etiology* / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000523:psychology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D000066550:Physical Abuse / Q000523:psychology; D000067073:Psychological Trauma / Q000150:complications* / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000523:psychology; D013313:Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000523:psychology; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Intrusive memories; PTSD; Peri-traumatic cognitions; Post trauma cognitions; Post-traumatic stress disorder; Re-experiencing