POSITIVE SYMPTOMS OF PSYCHOSIS IN POSTTRAUMATIC-STRESS-DISORDER

The possible presence of hallucinations and delusional thoughts in pos ttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) was investigated. Other symptom clus ters were also assessed in order to further clarify the nature of PTSD . Twenty combat veterans with PTSD were compared to 18 combat veterans without PTSD on symptom rating scales. The subjects with PTSD exhibit ed a greater degree of depression, anxiety, agitation, anhedonia, and positive symptoms of psychosis than the comparison group. Specifically , the PTSD group manifested increased hallucinations, delusions, and b izarre behavior. Some of these positive symptoms did not appear to be due to reexperiencing of the trauma. The groups were not significantly different on indices of mania, thought disorder or inertia. The clini cal and diagnostic implications of the results are discussed A diagnos is of PTSD should be considered with patients who have positive sympto ms in the absence of thought disorder.