The Relationship Between PTSD and Psychosis

The Relationship Between PTSD and Psychosis PTSD Related Conditions Print The Relationship Between PTSD and Psychosis By Matthew Tull, PhD twitter Matthew Tull, PhD is a professor of psychology at the University of Toledo, specializing in post-traumatic stress disorder. Learn about our editorial policy Matthew Tull, PhD Medically reviewed by a board-certified physician Updated on August 15, 2019 Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder Overview Symptoms & Diagnosis Causes & Risk Factors Treatment Living With In Children Frank van Groen / LOOK-foto / Getty Images In This Article Table of Contents Expand Types of Psychotic Symptoms Mental Health Disorders With Psychosis Schizophrenia and PTSD Psychotic Symptoms in PTSD What This Means Treatment Is Critical View All Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and symptoms of psychosis, such as hallucinations, often occur together. In clinical terms, PTSD is described as consisting of four clusters of symptoms: re-experiencing symptoms, avoidance symptoms, negative changes in mood and brain function, and hyperarousal symptoms.?? However, some mental health professionals believe that the experience of psychotic symptoms should be considered as an addition to that list, given that they commonly occur among people with PTSD. Types of Psychotic Symptoms Psychotic symptoms can be divided into two groups: positive symptoms and negative symptoms. This doesnt mean that some psychotic symptoms are good and some are bad. Rather, positive symptoms refer to an experience, such as hallucinations, whereas negative symptoms refer to the lack of an experience. Positive Psychotic Symptoms Positive psychotic symptoms are characterized by the presence of unusual feelings, thoughts, or behaviors.?? This includes experiences such as hallucinations or delusions. Hallucinations refer to sensations of something that isnt really there. An auditory hallucination is an experience of hearing voices that arent there. A visual hallucination would involve seeing something that isnt real. Tactile hallucinations occur when you feel something that isnt there. Olfactory and gustatory hallucinations involve the experience of smelling or tasting something that isnt present.Delusions are ideas that you believe are true despite the fact that they may be unlikely or odd. For example, you might believe that the CIA is spying on you or that aliens are controlling your behaviors or thoughts.Disorganized behaviors are also very common with psychosis. You may, for example, make up words, speak in unintelligible ways, or stand in an odd pose. Positive Psychotic Symptoms Negative Psychotic Symptoms Negative psychotic symptoms are characterized by the absence of experience. For example, if you have negative symptoms, you may not be emotionally expressive. You may have difficulty speaking, may not say anything for days on end (called alogia) or be unable to accomplish simple tasks or activities, such as getting dressed in the morning.?? You may appear very unmotivated and withdrawn. Mental health professionals often refer to this lack of emotional expression as a person having a flat affect. Negative Psychotic Symptoms Flashbacks and Dissociation Flashbacks and dissociation occur commonly with PTSD, and though they are not psychotic symptoms, they share some features with psychosis, including: In a flashback, you may temporarily lose connection with your present situation, being transported back in time to a traumatic event in your memory. In a severe flashback, you may see, hear, or smell things that other people dont, consistent with a hallucination. Flashbacks often occur during periods of high stress and can be very frightening to the person experiencing them.Dissociation is an experience in which you feel disconnected from your body.?? You may not have any memory of whats happening in your environment for a period of time. The experience is similar to a daydream, but unlike a normal daydream, its very disruptive to your life. Flashbacks and Dissociation in PTSD Mental Health Disorders That Include Psychotic Symptoms These positive and negative psychotic symptoms may be seen with a number of different mental health disorders, including: PTSDBipolar disorderSchizophreniaMajor depressive disease with psychotic featuresSchizoaffective disorderSchizophreniform disorderDelusional disorder The distinction between these conditions is sometimes difficult, as there can be considerable overlap between different symptoms and conditions. Schizophrenia and PTSD Considering that schizophrenia is one of the most common psychiatric diagnoses, its not surprising that some people may have both schizophrenia and PTSD. PTSD most commonly occurs after a traumatic experience, and it has been found that traumatic experiences are more common for those with schizophrenia than for the general population. A recent study, in addition, found that there is significant genetic overlap between schizophrenia and PTSD.?? Treatment for both disorders is critical, yet some physicians are reluctant to use some of the normal approaches. For example, using exposure therapy for PTSD might not be the best choice when a person also has schizophrenia, since exposure therapy may worsen the symptoms of schizophrenia. That said, studies have found that well-thought-out treatment can reduce the symptoms of PTSD. For those who have this combination of conditions, its important to find a mental health provider who is familiar with the treatment of both conditions. Psychotic Symptoms in PTSD Researchers at the University of Manitoba, Columbia University, and the University of Regina examined the data on 5,877 people from across the United States in order to determine the rates with which people with PTSD experience different psychotic symptoms. They found that among people with PTSD, the experience of positive psychotic symptoms was most common.?? Approximately 52 percent of people who reported having PTSD at some point in their lifetime also reported experiencing a positive psychotic symptom. Most Common Psychotic Symptoms in PTSD The most common positive symptoms in the study above were:Believing that other people were spying on or following them (27.5 percent)Seeing something that others couldnt see (19.8 percent)Having unusual feelings inside or outside of their bodies, such as feeling as though they were being touched when no one was really there (16.8 percent)Believing that they could hear what someone else was thinking (12.4 percent)Being bothered by strange smells that no one else could smell (10.3 percent)Believing that their behaviors and thoughts were being controlled by some power or force (10 percent) Not surprisingly, it appears that the more PTSD symptoms youre experiencing, the greater the likelihood that you will also experience positive psychotic symptoms. Researchers have also looked at which  traumatic events are most commonly related to the experience of psychotic symptoms. The events that put people most at risk include being involved in a  natural disaster, seeing someone  injured or killed, or experiencing shock as a result of a traumatic event that happened to a loved one. What This Means The experience of psychotic symptoms may tell the story of just how severe a persons case of PTSD is and how well he or she is coping with the condition. It may also raise red flags about the likelihood of potentially dangerous behaviors. It has been suggested that the experience of psychotic symptoms in those with PTSD may be connected to the experience of dissociation described above. Frequent dissociation may increase the risk for the development of psychotic symptoms.?? Studies have shown that people with PTSD who experience psychotic symptoms, as compared to those with PTSD who do not, may be at greater risk for a number of problems, including  suicidal thoughts, suicide attempts,  and greater overall distress. Its important for everyone with PTSD and their loved ones to know the risk factors and warning signs of suicide. Treatment Is Critical If you or a loved one who had PTSD is experiencing psychotic symptoms, its very important to seek out treatment. Positive psychotic symptoms can usually be effectively managed through medication.  Addressing PTSD symptoms in treatment may also result in a reduction of psychotic symptoms.