Stanley D. Rosenberg

Trauma, PTSD, and the course of severe mental illness: an interactive model

Traumatic life events, as defined by DSM-IV, are common among persons with severe mental illnesses (SMI) such as schizophrenia. Limited evidence suggests concomitantly high rates of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in this population. However, conceptual models do not exist for understanding the interactions between trauma, PTSD, and SMI. We propose a model, which is an extension of the stress-vulnerability model, in which PTSD is hypothesized to mediate the negative effects of trauma on the course of SMI. Our model posits that PTSD influences psychiatric disorders both directly, through the effects of specific PTSD symptoms including avoidance, overarousal, and re-experiencing the trauma, and indirectly, through the effects of common correlates of PTSD such as retraumatization, substance abuse, and difficulties with interpersonal relationships. We discuss the evidence supporting this model, and consider several intervening variables that are hypothesized to moderate the proposed relationships between PTSD and SMI, including social support, coping and competence, and antisocial personality disorder. Theoretical and clinical implications of the model are considered, as well as several methodological and nosological issues. We conclude with a brief discussion of directions for future research aimed at evaluating components of the model.

Reliability of reports of violent victimization and posttraumatic stress disorder among men and women with serious mental illness

Although violent victimization is highly prevalent among men and women with serious mental illness (SMI; e.g., schizophrenia, bipolar disorder), future research in this area may be impeded by controversy concerning the ability of individuals with SMI to report traumatic events reliably. This article presents the results of a study exploring the temporal consistency of reports of childhood sexual abuse, adult sexual abuse, and adult physical abuse, as well as current symptoms of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) among 50 people with SMI. Results show that trauma history and PTSD assessments can, for the most part, yield reliable information essential to further research in this area. The study also demonstrates the importance of using a variety of statistical methods to assess the reliability of self-reports of trauma history.

Recent Victimization in Women and Men With Severe Mental Illness: Prevalence and Correlates

The problem of violence against individuals with severe mental illness (SMI) has received relatively little notice, despite several studies suggesting an exceptionally high prevalence of victimization in this population. This paper describes the results of an investigation of the prevalence and correlates of past year physical and sexual assault among a large sample of women and men with SMI drawn from inpatient and outpatient settings across 4 states. Results confirmed preliminary findings of a high prevalence of victimization in this population (with sexual abuse more prevalent for women and physical abuse more prevalent for men), and indicated the existence of a range of correlates of recent victimization, including demographic factors and living circumstances, history of childhood abuse, and psychiatric illness severity and substance abuse. The research and clinical implications of these findings are discussed.

A Randomized Controlled Trial of Cognitive-Behavioral Treatment for Posttraumatic Stress Disorder in Severe Mental Illness

A cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) program for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) was developed to address its high prevalence in persons with severe mental illness receiving treatment at community mental health centers. CBT was compared with treatment as usual (TAU) in a randomized controlled trial with 108 clients with PTSD and either major mood disorder (85%) or schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder (15%), of whom 25% also had borderline personality disorder. Eighty-one percent of clients assigned to CBT participated in the program. Intent-to-treat analyses showed that CBT clients improved significantly more than did clients in TAU at blinded posttreatment and 3- and 6-month follow-up assessments in PTSD symptoms, other symptoms, perceived health, negative trauma-related beliefs, knowledge about PTSD, and case manager working alliance. The effects of CBT on PTSD were strongest in clients with severe PTSD. Homework completion in CBT predicted greater reductions in symptoms. Changes in trauma-related beliefs in CBT mediated improvements in PTSD. The findings suggest that clients with severe mental illness and PTSD can benefit from CBT, despite severe symptoms, suicidal thinking, psychosis, and vulnerability to hospitalizations.

The Social–Environmental Context of Violent Behavior in Persons Treated for Severe Mental Illness

OBJECTIVES This study examined the prevalence and correlates of violent behavior by individuals with severe mental illness. METHODS Participants (N = 802) were adults with psychotic or major mood disorders receiving inpatient or outpatient services in public mental health systems in 4 states. RESULTS The 1-year prevalence of serious assaultive behavior was 13%. Three variables-past violent victimization, violence in the surrounding environment, and substance abuse-showed a cumulative association with risk of violent behavior. CONCLUSIONS Violence among individuals with severe mental illness is related to multiple variables with compounded effects over the life span. Interventions to reduce the risk of violence need to be targeted to specific subgroups with different clusters of problems related to violent behavior.

Psychometric evaluation of trauma and posttraumatic stress disorder assessments in persons with severe mental illness

Interrater reliability, internal consistency, test-retest reliability, and convergent validity were examined for the Trauma History Questionnaire (THQ), the Clinician-Administered Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) Scale (CAPS), and the PTSD Checklist (PCL) in 30 clients with severe mental illnesses. Interrater reliability for the THQ and CAPS was high, as was internal consistency of CAPS and PCL subscales. The test-retest reliability of the THQ was moderate to high for different traumas. PTSD diagnoses on the CAPS and PCL showed moderate test-retest reliability. Lower levels of test-retest reliability for PTSD diagnoses were related to psychosis diagnoses and symptoms. However, when more stringent criteria for PTSD were used on the CAPS, it had excellent test-retest reliability across all clients. CAPS and PCL diagnoses of PTSD showed moderate convergent validity. The results support the reliability of trauma and PTSD assessments in clients with severe mental illness.

Expressive disclosure and health outcomes in a prostate cancer population.

Objective: This pilot study explored the feasibility and the efficacy of a brief, well-defined psychosocial intervention (expressive disclosure) in improving behavioral, medical, immunological, and emotional health outcomes in men with diagnosed prostate cancer. Method: Thirty prostate cancer patients receiving outpatient oncology care were randomized into experimental (disclosure) and control (non-disclosure) groups. All had been previously treated by surgery or radiation within the last 4 years and were being monitored without further intervention for change in PSA levels. Psychological and physical health surveys were administered and peripheral blood for PSA levels and immune assays was obtained upon study enrollment and again at 3 and 6 months post enrollment. Multivariate analyses were used to examine how the expressive disclosure impacted the hypothesized domains of functioning: physical and psychological symptoms; health care utilization; and immunocompetence. Results: Compared to controls, patients in the expressive disclosure condition showed improvements in the domains of physical symptoms and health care utilization, but not in psychological variables nor in disease relevant aspects of immunocompetence. Conclusions: Study results support the feasibility of an expressive disclosure intervention for men with prostate cancer. The intervention was well accepted by this population, and participation/adherence was quite high. Results provide only limited support for the hypothesis that a written emotional disclosure task can positively impact health outcomes in a cancer population. However, this pilot study may have lacked adequate power to detect possible intervention benefits. Further studies with larger samples are needed to better assess the interventions impact on psychological well-being and immunocompetence.

Correlates of Adverse Childhood Experiences Among Adults With Severe Mood Disorders

OBJECTIVES Adverse childhood experiences have been found to be associated with poor physical and poor mental health, impaired functioning, and increased substance abuse in the general adult population. The purpose of this study was to examine the clinical correlates of these experiences among adults with severe mood disorders. METHODS Adverse childhood experiences (including physical abuse, sexual abuse, parental mental illness, loss of parent, parental separation or divorce, witnessing domestic violence, and placement in foster or kinship care) were assessed retrospectively in a sample of 254 adults with major mood disorders. The relationships between cumulative exposure to these experiences and psychiatric problems, health, substance use disorders, community functioning, trauma exposure in adulthood, and high-risk behaviors were examined. RESULTS Increased exposure to childhood adverse experiences was related to high-risk behaviors, diagnosis of a substance use disorder, exposure to trauma in adulthood, psychiatric problems (younger age at first hospitalization, number of suicide attempts, and diagnosis of posttraumatic stress disorder), medical service utilization, and homelessness. CONCLUSIONS The findings extend research in the general population by suggesting that adverse childhood experiences contribute to worse mental and physical health and functional outcomes among adults with severe mood disorders.

A comparative study of trauma and posttraumatic stress disorder prevalence in epilepsy patients and psychogenic nonepileptic seizure patients.

Summary: Purpose: This study tests the hypothesis that trauma histories, including histories of physical and sexual abuse, and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) are more prevalent in psychogenic non–epileptic seizure (NES) patients than in epilepsy patients.

The trauma of psychosis: Posttraumatic stress disorder and recent onset psychosis

Clinical investigators have argued that the experience of a recent onset of psychosis is an event of such severity that it can lead to posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), or at least to PTSD symptoms. The traumagenic elements of the psychotic experience may relate to the distressing nature of psychotic symptoms, components of treatment, or both. However, this hypotheses has not been fully empirically evaluated. In particular, the importance of the DSM-IV A1 (perception of threat) and A2 (negative emotion at time of event) criteria for a traumatic event due to a psychotic episode has not been assessed. To address this question, 38 clients in treatment for recent onset of psychosis were interviewed to identify distressing experiences related to the episode, with PTSD assessed (including A1/A2 criteria) related to those events. More than one-half of the participants reported intense distress related to psychotic symptoms or treatment experiences, with 66% meeting symptom criteria for the PTSD syndrome (regardless of A1/A2), and 39% meeting full diagnostic criteria for PTSD (including A1/A2). Both participants with the PTSD syndrome and full PTSD reported more problems in daily functioning and more severe symptoms than those without PTSD. Participants with the PTSD syndrome were also more likely to have an integrative rather than sealing over coping style compared to those without the PTSD syndrome. The results suggest that individuals with PTSD symptoms related to a recent onset of psychosis may benefit from intervention designed to help them integrate their experience into their lives and address potentially stigmatizing beliefs that could contribute to distress and impaired functioning.