The article discusses the features of experiencing psychotraumatic childhood experiences in the context of their connection with peritraumatic dissociation, post-traumatic experiences, and psychopathological symptoms in patients with schizophrenia spectrum disorders. The research is based on contemporary views of dissociation as a key mediator between early childhood trauma and the development of psychotic manifestations in the form of delusions and hallucinations. The subjects of the study were individuals with schizophrenia spectrum disorders. The focus of the research was on the clinical and psychological characteristics of experiencing a psychotraumatizing situation by patients with schizophrenia spectrum disorders. The hypothesis was that different forms of psychological trauma in childhood have different effects on the severity of dissociation and types of psychotic symptoms in patients with schizophrenia spectrum disorders. The study examined adverse childhood experiences, post-traumatic stress disorder, dissociation, and psychopathological symptoms in 40 patients from the schizophrenia spectrum, aged from 18 to 63 years. Psychodiagnostic methods were used, including the "Adverse Childhood Experiences Questionnaire," the "Mississippi PTSD Scale," the "Peritraumatic Dissociation Questionnaire," and the "SCL-90-R Questionnaire," along with statistical analysis (Kruskal-Wallis H-test). The novelty of the research lies in its addition to the existing assumptions in the scientific community regarding the significant role of dissociation in the etiopathogenesis of schizophrenia spectrum disorders. Differences in symptoms mediated by the influence of peritraumatic dissociation were shown to depend on the type of adverse experience. It was demonstrated that the nature of the trauma is important in the choice of the dissociation mechanism. The highest levels were associated with trauma from sexual violence (25.00%), violence outside the family (22.50%), domestic violence (17.50%), and dysfunctional family relationships (15.00%). The level of post-traumatic experiences and peritraumatic dissociation was also most pronounced in relation to these psychological traumas. The fragmented identity of a patient with schizophrenia spectrum disorder may be filled with psychopathological symptoms in the absence of dissociated "fragments of memory." The psychopathological symptoms reported by patients also correspond to the hypothesis of interlevel influence of dissociation: somatization, depression, anxiety, hostility, paranoid tendencies, and psychosis. Further exploration of this topic would establish an integrated approach to the consideration of disorders. Practical recommendations may include psychological interventions such as mentalization, mindfulness, and the use of trauma-focused therapy.
Shestakova et al. (Thu,) studied this question.