Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 13, 2026
09:55
Use of a Psychophysiological Script-driven Imagery Experiment to Study Trauma-related Dissociation in Borderline Personality Disorder
Published on: March 8, 2018
Psychotic symptoms in posttraumatic stress disorder
S E Lindley1, E Carlson, J Sheikh
1National Center for PTSD, Palo Alto VA Health Care System, Menlo Park, CA, USA.
CNS Spectrums
|July 20, 2007
Summary
Psychotic symptoms in posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) may indicate a unique subtype. This subtype is linked to severe psychopathology, requiring differential diagnosis and further research in diverse populations.
Area of Science:
- Psychiatry
- Clinical Psychology
- Neuroscience
Background:
- Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is increasingly recognized to present with psychotic symptoms.
- Approximately 30-40% of combat veterans with PTSD report hallucinations or delusions.
- Psychotic symptoms in PTSD are associated with elevated psychopathology, comparable to chronic schizophrenia.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the differential diagnosis of psychotic symptoms in PTSD.
- To explore the potential for a unique PTSD subtype with psychotic features.
- To examine treatment implications for PTSD with psychotic features.
Main Methods:
- Literature review of studies on psychotic symptoms in PTSD.
- Discussion of differential diagnoses including schizophrenia, psychotic depression, substance-induced psychosis, and personality disorders.
- Analysis of biologic studies and treatment data.
Main Results:
- Psychotic symptoms in PTSD suggest a distinct subtype with severe psychopathology.
- Differential diagnosis is crucial to distinguish from comorbid conditions.
- Similarities exist between PTSD with psychotic features and psychotic depression.
Conclusions:
- PTSD with psychotic features may represent an underrecognized subtype.
- Further research is needed in noncombat-related PTSD populations.
- Understanding this subtype has significant diagnostic and treatment implications.
Related Concept Videos
01:27Post-traumatic Stress Disorder
Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a psychiatric condition that arises following exposure to traumatic events such as natural disasters, forced displacement, or severe accidents. It significantly impairs individuals' ability to cope with daily activities and disrupts their emotional and psychological equilibrium.
Symptoms and Behavioral Manifestations
A spectrum of distressing symptoms characterizes PTSD. Recurrent flashbacks, where individuals involuntarily relive traumatic events, are a...
Symptoms and Behavioral Manifestations
A spectrum of distressing symptoms characterizes PTSD. Recurrent flashbacks, where individuals involuntarily relive traumatic events, are a...
01:27Dissociative Disorders
Dissociative disorders represent complex psychological conditions characterized by disruptions in consciousness, memory, identity, or perception. These disruptions cause individuals to experience a disconnection from their thoughts, emotions, and memories. The phenomenon is not merely an occasional lapse in attention but a profound alteration in mental functioning that can severely impact daily life.
Dissociative Fugue
A hallmark feature of dissociative disorders is the dissociative fugue...
Dissociative Fugue
A hallmark feature of dissociative disorders is the dissociative fugue...
01:26Positive Symptoms Schizophrenia: Hallucinations and Delusions
Schizophrenia is a complex psychiatric disorder characterized by a range of symptoms that significantly impact cognition, behavior, and emotional regulation. Among these, the positive symptoms stand out as they involve the addition or exaggeration of normal mental functions, deviating markedly from typical behavior and perception. Hallucinations and delusions are prominent positive symptoms, each profoundly affecting the individual's experience of reality.
Hallucinations
Hallucinations in...
Hallucinations
Hallucinations in...
01:22Personality Disorders: Paranoid and Schizoid
Personality disorders represent enduring cognition, affect, and behavior patterns that significantly deviate from societal norms. These maladaptive traits often lead to difficulties in various domains, including interpersonal relationships, occupational settings, and overall psychological well-being. Paranoid personality disorder and schizoid personality disorder are two distinct conditions marked by odd or eccentric behavior.
Paranoid Personality Disorder
Paranoid personality disorder is...
Paranoid Personality Disorder
Paranoid personality disorder is...
01:20Traumatic Memory
Emotionally traumatic events often lead to memories that are exceptionally vivid and enduring, sometimes persisting with remarkable clarity throughout an individual's life. A classic example of this phenomenon is a person who survives a car accident. Even years later, they may recall every detail of the event with startling accuracy — the screeching of the tires, the jarring impact, and the acrid smell of burning rubber. Such vividness contrasts sharply with how an individual remembers mundane...
01:30Dissociative Identity Disorder
Dissociative Identity Disorder (DID), previously termed multiple personality disorder, is a complex psychological condition characterized by the presence of two or more distinct identities or personality states. Each identity exhibits unique patterns of behavior, voice, and mannerisms and may possess separate memories and emotional responses. The alternating control between identities can result in memory gaps and challenges in recalling daily activities, often exacerbating the individual's...