Post traumatic stress disorder with psychotic features.

AIM: To study the combined course and interaction of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and psychosis through detailed case studies.

METHODS

We described 6 case studies of Israeli veterans with PTSD and psychosis, who were referred to our Center for the evaluation of their psychiatric status.

RESULTS

All the patients developed PTSD shortly after the exposure to a combat/military trauma. Psychosis appeared after months or even years, sometimes after a trauma-related trigger. Psychotic symptoms, such as delusions or auditory hallucinations, were usually paranoid or depressive and related in content to the traumatic experience.

CONCLUSION

The combined course of PTSD and psychotic disorder may reflect two distinct disorders, but in some cases it seems justified to make a diagnosis of PTSD with psychotic features. In addition, it seems that in certain conditions, traumatic exposure and/or PTSD may serve as a trigger for psychosis.