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Biomedical subjects

Craig Steel

Publications and source records attributed to Craig Steel.

3 recordsLinked to original sources

Positive schizotypy and trauma-related intrusions.

The current study extends previous investigation of schizotypy as a vulnerability factor for trauma-related intrusions through the use of a clinical sample. Fifty people seeking psychological interventions after experiencing a distressing or traumatic event completed measures of positive schizotypy, posttraumatic stress disorder symptomatology, peritraumatic dissociation, and mood. Individuals scoring high in positive schizotypy were vulnerable to experiencing more frequent trauma-related intrusions along with wider posttraumatic stress disorder symptomatology, including hypervigilance, avoidance, and low mood. Results are discussed within a theoretical context, suggesting that certain information processing styles associated with high schizotype individuals may account for a vulnerability to trauma-related intrusions.

Adult↗

Trauma and hallucinatory experience in psychosis.

Recent research indicates that there may be phenomenological, symptom, and diagnostic associations between trauma and hallucinations. However, the nature of the relationship is poorly understood from a psychological perspective. We report a theoretically informed phenomenological study. From descriptions of reported traumas and hallucinations, we assessed the rates of four types of hypothesized association between traumas and hallucinations (direct, indirect, stress, and none) in 75 participants with nonaffective psychosis. In a subgroup who had experienced trauma (N = 40), 12.5% had hallucinations with similar themes and content to their traumas, 45% had hallucinations in which the themes were the same but not the content, and 42.5% had no identifiable associations between their hallucinations and previously experienced trauma. Traumas rated as intrusive were significantly associated with hallucinations rated as intrusive, although intrusive hallucinations were not associated with traumas in general. The traumas most likely to be associated with hallucinations were sexual abuse and bullying.

Accidents↗

Schizotypy: a vulnerability factor for traumatic intrusions.

Intrusive mental experiences occur within posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and some psychotic disorders. Similarities in the phenomenology and content in the intrusions of both disorders have been noted. Currently there is little understanding of any common etiology in terms of information-processing styles. This study investigated predictors of analogue posttraumatic intrusive cognitions within a nonclinical sample, including schizotypy, dissociation, and trauma history. Forty-two participants watched a trauma video and recorded trauma-related intrusions occurring for 1 week. More reported intrusive experiences were associated with high positive symptom schizotypy. Our findings are discussed in relation to the possible role of trauma-related intrusions within psychotic disorders.

Adolescent↗