RESUMEN
AIM: To study the combined course and interaction of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and psychosis through detailed case studies. METHODS: We described 6 case studies of Israeli veterans with PTSD and psychosis, who were referred to our Center for the evaluation of their psychiatric status. RESULTS: All the patients developed PTSD shortly after the exposure to a combat/military trauma. Psychosis appeared after months or even years, sometimes after a trauma-related trigger. Psychotic symptoms, such as delusions or auditory hallucinations, were usually paranoid or depressive and related in content to the traumatic experience. CONCLUSION: The combined course of PTSD and psychotic disorder may reflect two distinct disorders, but in some cases it seems justified to make a diagnosis of PTSD with psychotic features. In addition, it seems that in certain conditions, traumatic exposure and/or PTSD may serve as a trigger for psychosis.
Asunto(s)
Trastornos Psicóticos/psicología , Trastornos por Estrés Postraumático/psicología , Guerra , Adulto , Diagnóstico Diferencial , Humanos , Masculino , Trastornos Psicóticos/diagnóstico , Trastornos Psicóticos/etiología , Trastornos por Estrés Postraumático/diagnóstico , Trastornos por Estrés Postraumático/etiologíaRESUMEN
Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is often accompanied by psychiatric comorbidity, usually depressive and anxiety disorders. Comorbidity with psychosis has seldom been described. We present 6 case-studies of Israeli military veterans with PTSD and psychosis (all men aged 28-43). All developed PTSD shortly after a period of months or even years, sometimes following trauma-related triggering. Psychotic symptoms such as delusions or auditory hallucinations usually had paranoid or depressive features related in content to the traumatic experience. The combined course and interaction between PTSD and psychotic disorder is discussed, as well as the diagnosis of PTSD with psychotic features.
