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. 2012 Apr;63(4):386-9.
doi: 10.1176/appi.ps.201100251.

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

Lawrence V Amsel  1 , Noel Hunter, San Kim, Kinga E Fodor, John C Markowitz
Affiliations

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

Lawrence V Amsel et al. Psychiatr Serv. 2012 Apr.

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.

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