If exposure to childhood trauma increases the risk to later develop a psychotic disorder, the impact of such events on clinical presentation and outcome after a first psychotic episode deserves attention both in order to identify specific patients' needs and to develop adapted therapeutic interventions.
Three hundred and sixty-two patients treated at TIPP-Lausanne, a specialized program for the treatment of the early phase of psychotic disorders, were assessed prospectively, from baseline and every six months until the end of the 36 months of treatment. We compared characteristics of patients exposed to childhood sexual and/or physical abuse to those of non-exposed patients.
One hundred and eight patients (29.8 %) were exposed to at least one episode of physical and/or sexual abuse during childhood. Exposed patients displayed higher levels of positive and depressive symptoms and had lower levels of functioning throughout the entire three year follow-up period.
The prevalence of exposure to major traumatic events during childhood in early psychosis patients is very high, and it has an important impact on symptomatic and functional outcome. However, when clinical care is adapted, such patients seem to have a great potential for recovery. This justifies the implementation of specialized early psychosis programs and additional research in order to develop specific and adapted therapeutic strategies for such patients.