Citation

Klewchuk EM, McCusker CG, Mulholland C, Shannon C. Br. J. Clin. Psychol. 2007; 46(Pt 3): 333-345.

Affiliation

Department of Clinical Psychology, School of Psychology, Queens University, Belfast, Northern Ireland.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2007, British Psychological Society)

DOI

10.1348/014466507X173385

PMID

17535526

Abstract

OBJECTIVES: This study investigates whether cognitive biases related to trauma (physical and sexual trauma) are present in a sample of participants with a diagnosis of schizophrenia. METHOD: Fifty-three participants, with a DSM-IV diagnosis of schizophrenia, completed tasks of attentional and memory bias, followed by several trauma report questionnaires. Those who reported a history of sexual and/or physical trauma were compared with a 'non-specific/no-trauma' subgroup. The reliability of trauma reports was determined by comparing current data on the Trauma History Questionnaire to that gathered one year previously, for a subsample of participants. Concordance rates and kappa coefficients suggested moderate to high reliability for reports of sexual and physical trauma. Attentional bias was assessed by comparing colour-naming times on modified Stroops, of either a sexual or physical nature, with control Stroops with negative, positive and neutral emotionally valenced stimuli. A subsequent incidental recall memory task was then employed. RESULTS: High rates of sexual and/or physical trauma were found. Those who reported a history of sexual trauma evidenced a statistically significant increase in colour-naming times for sexual trauma stimuli, compared to both the 'physical trauma only' and the 'non-specific/no trauma' control groups. They also showed greater incidental recall of sexual trauma words in comparison to the other groups. Such a pattern was not, however, discerned for those reporting histories of physical trauma. CONCLUSIONS: Findings suggest cognitive schemata related to sexual trauma remains 'active' in those people with schizophrenia who report a related history.

Language: en