Dissociation in patients with schizophrenia: Relationships with childhood trauma and psychotic symptoms

Abstract

Background and Aims:Only few studies have investigated the relationship between childhood trauma and dissociative symptoms in patients with schizophrenia spectrum disorders. Moreover, most of the existing studies did not pay attention to potential relationships between dissociation and psychotic symptoms.Methods:We examined 103 consecutively admitted patients with schizophrenia spectrum disorders using the Childhood Trauma Questionnaire (CTQ), the Dissociative Experiences Scale (DES) and the Positive and Negative Symptom Scale (PANSS). Relationships between dissociative symptoms, childhood trauma and psychotic symptoms were examined at admission (t0) and when patients were stabilised (t1).Results:The DES mean score decreased significantly between t0 and t1 (M=20.1 vs. M=14.5). When patients were stabilized, sexual abuse, physical abuse, emotional abuse and the CTQ total score were significantly correlated with the DES total score (r=.36**, r=.20*, r=.28**, and r=.32**) and different subscales of the DES, most strongly with the amnesia subscale. The amnesia subscale of the DES also showed significant correlations with physical neglect (r=.28**). At t1, positive symptoms as measured by the PANSS were correlated with the depersonalisation subscale of the DES (r=.24*). No relationship existed with negative symptoms.Conclusions:Our results confirm the relationships between childhood trauma and dissociation in patients with schizophrenia spectrum disorders. Furthermore, they suggest a relationship between dissociation and positive, but not negative psychotic symptoms.