When people think about schizophrenia, they imagine an illness that develops on its own, with no connection to life experiences. However, science has proven that traumatic events—childhood trauma, rape, or physical abuse—can be one of the reasons psychotic symptoms appear. For some, trauma follows psychosis. For others, schizophrenia and trauma overlap, and the healing process is more complex.1 2
This intersection is sometimes called post-traumatic schizophrenia, but that is not a formal DSM-5 term. But the idea is significant because it describes how traumatic experience affects severe mental illness as well as how it affects treatment.3
At A Mission For Michael (AMFM), we serve individuals who have been exposed to trauma as well as schizophrenia spectrum disorders. We believe that healing is not only more than medication—but also the repair of wounds from long ago, learning to cope, and offering ongoing mental health treatment near you.
“Post-traumatic schizophrenia” isn’t something you’ll find in official guidebooks such as the DSM-5. Instead, it’s a term clinicians use when psychotic disorder and trauma seem tightly connected. For example, someone could develop schizophrenia years on after the habitual traumatization in childhood. Or else someone with PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) could begin to develop psychotic symptoms such as hallucinations, i.e., hearing things, or paranoia.4
This complicates diagnosis, but it also illustrates why a comorbid treatment—treatment for both trauma and psychosis—is so crucial.
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Do traumatic events cause schizophrenia? Researchers keep the picture more nuanced. Schizophrenia is strongly biological in origin, but trauma does seem to increase the risk of psychosis among those who are already vulnerable.6
Meta-analyses and systematic reviews also show that victims of child abuse—physical abuse, sexual abuse, or neglect—are two to three times more likely to have psychotic symptoms in adulthood.7 It’s not one bad experience; the more dose of traumatic life experiences one has, the higher the risk.
While not every person who has been exposed to trauma will develop schizophrenia in the future, these risk factors illustrate why screening for trauma is a vital part of healthcare.
In the general population, 5-10% of people will develop PTSD throughout their lifetime. Schizophrenia is less prevalent and appears in about 1 in 300 people worldwide.8 9 If the two disorders cross paths, the result is catastrophic and requires extensive treatment.
In clinical populations, PTSD typically occurs after a first episode psychosis (FEP). Studies show that nearly 40% of the patients have overt symptoms of PTSD, and about 30% meet the full diagnosis for PTSD after their first hospitalization for psychosis.10 11
In schizophrenia spectrum disorders, individuals with a history of trauma are also predicted to have more extreme positive symptoms, more distress, and greater impairment in functional ability. Poverty, discrimination, and chronic stress might also act as correlates, moving already at-risk individuals further along the trajectory to risk of psychosis. The message is clear: trauma questioning is not elective—it is good practice in mental health.
As PTSD and schizophrenia can both include psychotic symptoms, therapists need to have a close look to see what is happening. Some of their questions are:
Tests like the CAPS-5 (Clinician-Administered PTSD Scale for DSM-5) and screening questionnaires inform PTSD diagnosis. But as all experienced providers know, tests don’t replace listening to the entire story.12 13
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To the person afflicted with both PTSD and schizophrenia, the world becomes claustrophobic. Flashbacks relive the worst experiences, and auditory hallucinations or paranoia render other people untrustworthy. Hypervigilance keeps the body in a state of constant alertness, sleep becomes insecure, and social life usually disappears.
This is not a personal failure. It’s the product of two simultaneous mental illness conditions—each powerful in its own right—controlling an individual’s day-to-day life. This is something families and clinicians need to know, as it explains why treatment needs to be evidence-based, ongoing, and compassionate.
Our treatment programs at A Mission For Michael are for those who not only cope with schizophrenia but also trauma. We’re dedicated to treating the person, not a diagnosis. That means:
If AMFM isn’t appropriate, we still provide referrals to other qualified providers. To us, it’s a matter of everyone having an opportunity at recovery.
It is common for it to make suicidal ideas pop up at times when experiencing psychosis and trauma. Suicide is one of the top causes of death in the United States, and individuals who have severe mental illness are more at risk.16 If you or someone you know is in crisis, the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline is available 24/7 to assist. When you call or text 988, you will be connected with a trained crisis counselor who will offer confidential assistance. You can choose from the Veterans Crisis Line to Spanish language support and videophone capacity for the deaf and hard of hearing.
Provided by the SAMHSA, a U.S. Department of Health and Human Services agency, free of charge, the Lifeline gets the caller connected with local crisis centers, cutting down on the need for law enforcement and keeping individuals safe.17
Complete the form to receive a prompt call back from a member of our experienced and compassionate admissions staff. All communication is 100% confidential.
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Delaying treatment for psychosis or trauma can make it worse. What starts as nightmares or paranoia can turn into voices, intense flashbacks, and social isolation. With early treatment, however, people are able to stabilize, reconnect with others, and build healthier habits. Families become more comfortable as well when they sense their concerns are being heard.
At AMFM, we prioritize early treatment, screening, and diagnosis. In CBT, antipsychotic medication, or trauma treatments such as EMDR, we aim to offer evidence-based treatments tailored to the unique needs of each individual.
If you or someone you know is displaying symptoms of schizophrenia—such as voices, paranoia, or withdrawal—and especially after trauma, the best thing to do is to call out. At AMFM, we offer free, confidential consultations to help you get a handle on what is going on and what can be done about it.
Call (844) 714-4743 today and speak with admissions. Help is within reach, and hope is real.
American Psychiatric Association. What Is Schizophrenia? Accessed September 2, 2025. https://www.psychiatry.org/patients-families/schizophrenia/what-is-schizophrenia.
National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH). Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder. Accessed September 2, 2025. https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/topics/post-traumatic-stress-disorder-ptsd.
American Psychiatric Association. DSM-5 Overview. Accessed September 2, 2025. https://www.psychiatry.org/psychiatrists/practice/dsm.
Tandon, Rajiv, et al. “Definition and Description of Schizophrenia in the DSM-5.” Schizophrenia Research 150, no. 1 (2013): 3–10. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.schres.2013.05.028.
World Health Organization. Schizophrenia Fact Sheet. Accessed September 2, 2025. https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/schizophrenia.
Read, John, et al. “Childhood Trauma, Psychosis and Schizophrenia: A Literature Review with Theoretical and Clinical Implications.” Acta Psychiatrica Scandinavica 112, no. 5 (2005): 330–350. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1600-0447.2005.00634.x.
Varese, Filippo, et al. “Childhood Adversities Increase the Risk of Psychosis: A Meta-analysis.” Schizophrenia Bulletin 38, no. 4 (2012): 661–671. https://doi.org/10.1093/schbul/sbs050.
World Health Organization. Schizophrenia Fact Sheet. Accessed September 2, 2025. https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/schizophrenia.
NIMH. PTSD. Accessed September 2, 2025. https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/topics/post-traumatic-stress-disorder-ptsd.
Rodrigues, Ricardo, and Kwame K. Anderson. “The Traumatic Experience of First-Episode Psychosis: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis.” Schizophrenia Research 189 (2017): 27–33. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.schres.2017.02.001.
Buswell, Georgina, et al. “PTSD and Psychosis: Prevalence and Associated Factors.” BMC Psychiatry 21 (2021): 9. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12888-020-02999-x.
VA National Center for PTSD. “Clinician-Administered PTSD Scale for DSM-5 (CAPS-5).” Accessed September 2, 2025. https://www.ptsd.va.gov/professional/assessment/adult-int/caps.asp.
Brewin, C. R., et al. “Brief Screening Instrument for PTSD (TSQ).” The British Journal of Psychiatry 181, no. 2 (2002): 158–162. https://doi.org/10.1192/bjp.181.2.158.
van den Berg, D. P. G., et al. “Prolonged Exposure vs Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing vs Waiting List for PTSD in Patients with a Psychotic Disorder: Randomized Controlled Trial.” JAMA Psychiatry 72, no. 3 (2015): 259–267. https://doi.org/10.1001/jamapsychiatry.2014.2637.
de Bont, P. A. J. M., et al. “Prolonged Exposure and EMDR for PTSD vs Waiting List: Effects on Psychosis, Depression and Social Functioning in Patients with Chronic Psychotic Disorders.” Psychological Medicine 46, no. 11 (2016): 2411–2421. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0033291716001094.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Suicide Facts. Updated March 26, 2025. https://www.cdc.gov/suicide/facts/.
SAMHSA (Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration). “988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline.” Last modified April 2023. https://www.samhsa.gov/mental-health/988.
