Investigating Potential Mediators in the Relationship between Psychosis and Childhood Trauma

Abstract

Background: Substantial evidence exists for the predictive relationship between trauma and psychosis. However, few studies have explored indirect relationships between these and none have concurrently investigated a potential mediating effect of schematic beliefs or dissociative experiences in a psychosis sample. This study proposed such an investigation amongst participants in the ACTION trial, who have abstained from neuroleptic medication for at least six months. Method: A cross-sectional investigation of positive and general psychotic symptoms using the PANSS and PSYRATS with the Childhood Trauma Questionnaire, Brief Core Schema Scale and the Dissociative Experiences Scale where completed at the 3 month assessment stage of the ACTION trial (n=39). Results: Zero-order correlations between all subscales revealed significant relationships to guide the selection of variables for mediation analysis. The conditions for planned mediations were not satisfied; therefore multiple regressions were performed using appropriate subscales on measures of psychotic symptoms. Significant relationships were found for negative beliefs about the self with general psychotic symptoms, delusions and persecutory ideation, measured on the PANSS. Dissociation significantly predicted auditory hallucinations, measured on the PSYRATS. However subsequent correlations, multiple logistic and binary logistic regressions found no evidence of trauma predicting symptoms, in particular sexual abuse and voice hearing; a relationship supported by substantial existing evidence.Discussion: The implications of these results are discussed in relation to trauma prevalence, sample size and power and the potentially unique characteristics of the participant group, which remains relatively unexplored. Future research amongst such participants is encouraged to complete the investigation exploring indirect effects between such variables.

Date of Award	1 Aug 2013
Original language	English
Awarding Institution	The University of Manchester
Supervisor	Anthony Morrison (Supervisor)