Is There Any Association Between Childhood Traumatic Experiences, Dissociation and Psychotic Symptoms in Schziophrenic Patients?

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to investigate the rates childhood traumatic experiences (CTEs) of schizophrenia patients and to examine relationship between childhood traumatic experiences, dissociation and psychotic symptoms. METHODS: One hundred schizophrenia patients who had 5 or 5 points below in Clinical Global Impression-Severity (CGI-S) and who were not in active psychotic episode and 50 healthy siblings who grew up in the same environment with the patients were included to the study. Structured Clinical Interview for DSM IV, Scale for the Assessment of Positive Symptoms, Scale for the Assessment of Negative Symptoms, Dissociative Experiences Scale (DES), CGI-S, Global Assessment of Functioning Scale and Childhood Trauma Questionnaire (CTQ-28) applied to the patients. RESULTS: Childhood abuse subscales and DES scores were statistically higher in the patient group (p<0.001). We determined moderately significant positive correlation between CTQ-28 and DES. We determined moderately significant positive correlation between CTQ total scores and persecutory delusions, delusions of reference, ability to feel intimacy and closeness; relationship with friends and peers. Also, there was a significant positive correlation between persecutory delusions and CTQ-total, DES-total and all subscales of CTQ-28. CONCLUSION: Clinicians should inquire about CTEs to develop comprehensive formulations and treatment plans among schizophrenia.