Research aim: to examine if different kinds of traumatic experiences are associated with different likelihoods of developing psychotic symptoms in a population of trauma-affected refugees with a diagnosis of PTSD. It is hypothesised that the experience of torture and captivity, as an interpersonal adversity, is particularly associated with psychotic symptoms in PTSD.

Design: A retrospective cohort study

Population: Approx. 700 trauma-affected refugees included in previous RCTs at CTP.

Methods: The study uses variables from the 'trauma anamnesis', 'HTQ scores', 'Hamilton scores for depression and anxiety', 'PTSD diagnosis', 'HSCL scores', 'GAF scores', 'information about the patient's psychotic symptoms' and 'demographic data' at baseline. The analyses include both descriptive methods for the demographic data and hierarchical logistic regressions, to examine the relation of different kinds of traumatic experiences and the diagnosis of PTSD-SP (PTSD with secondary psychotic features).

Primary investigator: Hannah Rathke, Msc Psychology

Supervisors: Sabina Palic-Kapic, Msc Psychology, PhD, Stig Poulsen, Msc Psychology, PhD​

Publication:  Rathke, H., Poulsen, S., Carlsson, J., & Palic, S. (2020). PTSD with secondary psychotic features among trauma-affected refugees: The role of torture and depression. Psychiatry research, 287.