There is little research exploring the links between positive psychotic phenomena such as persecutory delusions and PTSD. Despite similarities in symptomatology and similarities in the cognitive models of both disorders, few researchers have addressed the question of what factors influence outcome (PTSD or persecutory delusions) following traumatic life events. There is some evidence to suggest PTSD can develop as a result of the experience of psychosis and conversely, some research suggests psychotic symptoms can sometimes occur following traumatic life events. This study explores the role of attributional style and the search for meaning following traumatic life events as a central mechanism in the development of both PTSD and persecutory delusions. A postal survey design was used to assess PTSD and delusional symptomatology in emergency ambulance workers. Participants completed a battery of questionnaires designed to measure PTSD and delusional symptomatology as well as measures of specific and general attributional style. A measure of post-traumatic beliefs was also included.
The final sample comprised 51 emergency ambulance workers and their responses suggested that the likely rate of PTSD among this sample was 51 percent. The results suggested that in this sample, a self-blaming attributional style was associated with delusional symptomatology and that length of time spent in the emergency ambulance service may be associated with higher rates of PTSD symptomatology. Furthermore, those who met caseness for PTSD may hold delusional beliefs with more conviction and preoccupation as well as finding these beliefs more distressing than those who display less symptomatology. In keeping with the literature on PTSD, it was also discovered that self-blame and negative beliefs about oneself in relation to the cause of the traumatic event seem to predict PTSD symptomatology.
The discussion of these findings considers: the relationship between PTSD and
delusional symptomatology, implications for clinical practice, implications the
emergency ambulance service, and directions for future research.