The effects of childhood abuse on self-reported psychotic symptoms in severe mental illness: Mediating effects of posttraumatic stress symptoms

The present study examined the role of posttraumatic stress symptoms in the relationship between childhood abuse and self-reported psychotic symptoms in severe mental illness. A total of 126 patients diagnosed with major psychiatric conditions with comorbid symptoms of psychosis participated in the present study. The representative psychiatric diagnoses included schizophrenia, bipolar disorder with psychotic features, major depressive disorder with psychotic features, schizoaffective disorder, schizophreniform disorder, and delusional disorder. The Korean Child Trauma Questionnaire measured the type and degree of childhood abuse including emotional, physical, and sexual abuse. Korean version of the Impact of Event Scale-Revised assessed posttraumatic stress symptoms, and PSYC subscale of the PSY-5 Factor Scale of the MMPI-2 was used as a measure of self-reported psychotic symptoms. There was a significant relationship between childhood physical, emotional, sexual abuse and psychotic symptoms. Posttraumatic stress symptoms partially mediated the relationship between childhood abuse and psychotic symptoms. This implies that childhood abuse is significantly associated with the experience of chronic posttraumatic stress symptoms, and that such symptoms in turn increases the likelihood of experiencing psychotic symptoms. The results highlight the need for appropriate assessment and intervention concerning childhood abuse and posttraumatic stress symptoms in severe mental illness.

A Holistic Model for the Rehabilitation and Recovery of Internally Displaced People in War-Torn Uganda

This article introduces the current sociopolitical background of internally displaced people in Northern Uganda. Communities have experienced war, murder, rape, abductions, and loss of occupation, loss of land, loss of role, separation, displacement and multiple diseases. Such experiences have created major psychosocial problems for some of these people. The community development work of one occupational therapist working with a humanitarian organisation is described. It is asserted that occupational therapy models and approaches are highly relevant in such situations and that solution-focused, strengths-based approaches are most appropriate.

Childhood abuse and psychosis; a critical review of the literature

Childhood trauma has long been recognised as a potential cause for a range of affective mental health problems arising in adulthood. Only in recent years has the association between childhood abuse and psychosis begun to be investigated. This paper provides a critical review of the literature addressing the relationship between childhood abuse and psychosis. Implications for practitioners are discussed, including practice, policy, treatment and child protection issues. A significant proportion of people develop psychosis in adulthood following all types of childhood abuse, including people diagnosed with schizophrenia, major depressive disorders, dissociative identity disorder and post-traumatic stress disorder. Evidence suggests the possibility of a causal relationship between childhood abuse and psychosis in adulthood. Mental health nurses are ideally placed to offer help, care and support to those individuals who experience psychosis by acknowledging and listening to their life events, including experiences of childhood abuse.

Childhood trauma, psychosis and schizophrenia: a literature review with theoretical and clinical implications

OBJECTIVE

To review the research addressing the relationship of childhood trauma to psychosis and schizophrenia, and to discuss the theoretical and clinical implications.

METHOD

Relevant studies and previous review papers were identified via computer literature searches.

RESULTS

Symptoms considered indicative of psychosis and schizophrenia, particularly hallucinations, are at least as strongly related to childhood abuse and neglect as many other mental health problems. Recent large-scale general population studies indicate the relationship is a causal one, with a dose-effect.

CONCLUSION

Several psychological and biological mechanisms by which childhood trauma increases risk for psychosis merit attention. Integration of these different levels of analysis may stimulate a more genuinely integrated bio-psycho-social model of psychosis than currently prevails. Clinical implications include the need for staff training in asking about abuse and the need to offer appropriate psychosocial treatments to patients who have been abused or neglected as children. Prevention issues are also identified.