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Abstract
Individuals with schizophrenia have been found to have high rates of victimization and are vulnerable to repeated exposure to traumas. Despite statistical evidence of vulnerability, the underlying mechanisms of action have not been clearly identified. Researchers have hypothesized many factors that may explain this increased rate of traumatic exposure in schizophrenia. These include: vulnerability to stress, living conditions (foster care, homelessness, repeated hospitalizations), and/or cognitive impairments that may impede decision making abilities. It is likely that a number of factors influence an individual's vulnerability to repeated trauma exposure.
This study evaluated risk assessment ability in individuals with schizophrenia. Risk assessment is the ability to estimate the probability of future outcomes. Assessing risk usually involves weighing cost with benefits, and avoiding unwanted events. Risk assessment measures used in the current study included the Endler Multidimensional Anxiety Scale (EMAS), the International Affective Picture System (LAPS), and the Iowa Gambling Task (IGT). Clinical interviews included the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS), the Stressful Life Events Screening Questionnaire (SLESQ), and the Structured Clinical Interview for the DSM-IV Axis I Disorders PTSD Module (SCID-I, PTSD Module).
It was hypothesized that individuals with a history of repeated victimizations would have deficits in their ability to perceive risk, would be more likely to report childhood abuse, would have more severe clinical symptoms, and those with the lowest risk assessment ability and highest number of victimizations would have the most functional impairment and highest symptom severity. It was found that risk assessment was not related to victimizations, however, childhood abuse and clinical mood symptoms were related to victimization histories. Implications, limitations and suggestions for future research are provided.
