The relationship between post-traumatic, dissociative, and psychopathological symptoms in patients with schizophrenia spectrum disorders

the study examines the relationship between adverse childhood experiences, specifically experienced sexual abuse and family violence, in patients with schizophrenia spectrum disorders, focusing on the mechanism of peritraumatic dissociation during psychological trauma and the development of posttraumatic psychopathological symptoms. The identified correlations demonstrate that, in a certain endophenotype, childhood psychological trauma can manifest as dissociative and posttraumatic phenomena, which later develop into psychopathology. The difference between the psychotraumatic approach to understanding schizophrenia spectrum disorders lies in its implication of a triggering factor – a traumatic situation – rather than merely addressing symptoms, which is the usual focus of clinical practice. Working with both the target trauma and the resulting symptoms together will lead to a better quality of life for patients through long-term remission and reduced self-stigmatization of their disorder.

schizophrenic spectrum, schizophrenia, psychological trauma, dissociation, violence, PTSD, psychotic symptoms, SCL-90-R