Trauma and Psychosis: An Analysis of the National Comorbidity Survey

OBJECTIVE: The authors hypothesized that the likelihood of psychosis classification would increase with traumatic experiences. METHOD: Data from the National Comorbidity Survey were used to estimate the relationship between interpersonal trauma and the likelihood of a classification of psychosis. RESULTS: Childhood physical abuse predicted psychosis, and there was a significant cumulative relationship between trauma and psychosis, with number of trauma types experienced increasing the probability of psychosis. CONCLUSIONS: Overall, physical abuse predicted psychosis. In addition, a significant gender-by-rape interaction was observed, with rape having higher predictive value for psychosis in male subjects.