Edinburgh Napier University

  Objectives: Traumatic experiences constitute a risk factor for developing different psychopathologies, such as post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), complex post-traumatic stress disorder (CPTSD), and positive symptoms of psychosis. However, on the symptom level, it is still unclear how CPTSD and positive symptoms of psy-chosis associate with each other. The present study aimed to shed light on these dy-namics by investigating the symptoms network of CPTSD and positive symptoms of psychosis.

Methods: A network analysis was performed on CPTSD and psychosis symptoms among a Canadian community sample with a history of traumatic life events (n = 747). Measures included the International Trauma Questionnaire (ITQ) and the mPRIME screen.

Results: 4.8% of the sample reached the criteria of probable PTSD; 7% fulfilled the criteria of probable CPTSD. PTSD and CPTSD groups had a significantly higher severity of positive symptoms of psychosis compared to the no-disorder group. Net-work analysis revealed three distinct communities of symptoms of PTSD, disturbances in self-organization, and psychosis. Affective dysregulation served as the bridging symptom between the communities. Hearing one’s own thoughts aloud was the most central symptom in the network.

Conclusions: Findings show that positive symptoms of psychosis can be considered trauma-related responses. Further, interventions targeting affective dysregulation as well as the experience and distress associated with hearing one’s own thoughts aloud may contribute to symptom reduction and improved functioning.