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Association between trauma exposure and delusional experiences in a large community-based sample

Kids in Mind Research, Mater Children’s Hospital, South Brisbane and Queensland Centre for Mental Health Research, Wacol, Queensland

DAVID CHANT, PhD

Queensland Centre for Mental Health Research, Wacol, and Department of Psychiatry, University of Queensland, St Lucia, Queensland

GAVIN ANDREWS, MD, FRANZCP

Clinical Research Unit for Anxiety and Depression, School of Psychiatry, University of New South Wales, Darlinghurst, NSW

GRAHAM MARTIN, OAM, MD, FRANZCP, DPM

Department of Psychiatry, University of Queensland, St Lucia, Queensland

JOHN McGRATH, MD, PhD, FRANZCP

Queensland Centre for Mental Health Research, Wacol, and Department of Psychiatry, University of Queensland, St Lucia, Queensland, Australia

Correspondence: Professor John McGrath, Queensland Centre for Mental Health Research, Park Centre for Mental Health, Wacol, QLD 4076, Australia. Tel: +61 7 3271 8694; fax: +61 7 3271 8698; email: john_mcgrath{at}qcsr.uq.edu.au

Declaration of interest None.

Background Surveys have found that otherwise well individuals report delusional experiences. Previous studies have shown an association between psychotic symptoms and exposure to trauma.

Aims To explore the association between trauma and delusional experiences in a community sample.

Method Respondents (n=10 641) were assessed for delusional experiences, exposure to various types of traumatic experiences and the presence of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). The endorsement of delusional items was examined in people exposed to traumatic events who did or did not have PTSD.

Results Exposure to any traumatic event but without the development of PTSD was associated with increased endorsement of delusional experiences (relative risk 2.68, 95% CI 2.18–3.30) and there was a significant dose–response relationship between the number of types of traumatic events and endorsement of such experiences (² =26.74, d.f.=2, P<0.001). A diagnosis of PTSD further increased endorsement of delusional experiences (RR=9.24, 95% CI 6.95–12.27). The association between PTSD and delusional experiences remained significant after adjusting for factors associated with psychotic symptoms.

Conclusions Further investigation into the pathways between trauma, delusions and psychosis may provide insights into shared aetiological mechanisms underpinning these conditions.

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Kimberlie Dean
BJP 2007 190: A13. [Full Text]