The subjective effect of antipsychotic medication on trauma‐related thoughts, emotions, and physical symptoms: A qualitative study with people who have experienced childhood trauma and psychosis
Authors: Kamitsis Ilias , Harms Louise , Bendall Sarah 
Published: October 2021

Objectives

Among people with psychosis, those with a history of childhood trauma are likely to experience trauma‐related symptoms, such as trauma memory intrusions. Irrespective of whether these individuals continue to remember and re‐experience trauma, their treatment very often includes alleviating psychotic symptoms through the use of antipsychotic medication. Antipsychotics, while primarily used to treat psychotic symptoms, can influence non‐psychotic symptoms and alter how people think and feel. We thus aimed to explore how people with childhood trauma and psychosis experience the effects that antipsychotics have on their (1) thoughts, images, and memories, (2) emotions, and (3) physical responses, related to their childhood trauma.

Design

A qualitative phenomenological research design using semi‐structured interviews was implemented.

Methods

Data were analysed using interpretative phenomenological analysis.

Results

Nineteen participants were interviewed. Two super‐ordinate themes were conceptualized. Many participants spoke about the impact of antipsychotics on trauma‐related experiences (Theme 1). Some indicated that antipsychotics alleviated the intensity and frequency of trauma‐related thoughts, emotions, and physical symptoms. A few others reported that their trauma‐related flashbacks, thoughts, and physical symptoms intensified while taking antipsychotics. Participants spoke about the role of antipsychotics in confronting and processing trauma (Theme 2). A few participants reported that by suppressing trauma‐related thoughts and emotions antipsychotics prevented them from confronting their trauma.

Conclusions

The effects of antipsychotics can be subjectively experienced as beneficial or detrimental depending on how they influence trauma‐related thoughts, emotions, and physical responses. Intervention studies are needed to determine how people with childhood trauma and psychosis respond to antipsychotic drugs.

Practitioner points

Antipsychotics may alter the way in which people with childhood trauma and psychosis remember and re‐experience trauma. These alterations can be beneficial or detrimental, and thus play a role in whether people consider their medication helpful.

By suppressing trauma‐related thoughts and emotions, antipsychotics can prevent people from confronting their trauma. This may be considered beneficial to some, but other people may need or want to confront their trauma to heal.

The effectiveness of trauma‐focused psychological therapies may be influenced by the emotional, cognitive, and physiological effects of antipsychotic medications.

The ability of antipsychotics to suppress people’s trauma memories may contribute to post‐traumatic avoidance. People with post‐traumatic stress symptoms and psychosis should be provided with psycho‐education about post‐traumatic avoidance and its role in the maintenance of post‐traumatic stress disorder.