Does a study focused on trauma encourage patients with psychotic symptoms to seek treatment?

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: This study explored, in a randomized trial of psychotherapies for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), why a surprisingly high percentage of study applicants presented with psychotic symptoms and what clinical implications this finding might prompt. METHODS: Raters reviewed the records of applicants who completed an initial psychiatric interview and compared those who had psychotic symptoms with all other study-eligible participants and with those who ultimately were enrolled in the study. RESULTS: Of 223 consecutively evaluated individuals who applied for study entry, 38 (17%) were found ineligible because of psychotic symptoms. These individuals were more likely to be male and to have suffered child abuse, and they had taken a greater number of lifetime medications than study-eligible applicants. Most individuals with psychotic symptoms met DSM-IV criteria for PTSD. CONCLUSIONS: A trauma-informed framework might be a helpful part of a comprehensive treatment plan for some individuals with psychotic symptoms, possibly leading to greater treatment engagement and more positive outcomes.