Childhood Trauma and Psychiatric Symptoms

144 psychiatric inpatients who reported childhood physical or sexual trauma were administered the Symptom Check List-90-Revised, the Dissociative Experiences Scale, and the Dissociative Disorders Interview Schedule. There was a significant association of reported childhood abuse with psychotic and other symptoms. The findings support the hypothesis that experience of trauma may precede psychiatric symptoms, perhaps including positive symptoms of schizophrenia.