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Trauma induced memory processes underlying psychosis

Mason, Ava; (2024) Trauma induced memory processes underlying psychosis. Doctoral thesis (Ph.D), UCL (University College London).

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Abstract

Current evidence points towards a causal association between developmental trauma and an increased risk of psychosis. However, there is a lack of understanding into the precise mechanisms underlying this association. One potential mechanism supported by biopsychosocial and cognitive theories of psychosis focuses on aberrant memory processing. The model of this thesis proposed that hippocampal-dependent memory processing underlies the association between developmental trauma and psychotic experiences. This thesis included multiple studies using different methodology to investigate the hypothesis that developmental trauma gives rise to psychotic experiences through its effects on hippocampal-dependent memory processing, associated neural structures and PTSD symptoms. Data from a systematic review and meta-analysis, a cross-sectional study, a behavioural study, a mixed method study and a neuroimaging study were used to test this hypothesis using measures of performance on memory tasks, clinical questionnaires and interviews and structural neuroimaging data. Key findings were that developmental trauma and PTSD symptoms (specifically childhood trauma memory intrusions) and CPTSD symptoms were positively associated with psychotic experiences. Developmental trauma was negatively associated with hippocampal dependent memory processing, specifically recollective recall performance and hippocampal volume. Evidence suggested that hippocampal dependent memory processing is positively associated with the severity and frequency of memory intrusions, that subsequently affect psychotic experiences. These findings present the first evidence that hippocampal-dependent memory processing plays a role in the relationship between developmental trauma and psychosis through subsequent intrusions. Future research should use longitudinal data to infer whether developmental trauma-induced hippocampal-dependent memory processing precede the development of psychosis. However, these findings demonstrate that altered hippocampal-dependent memory processing may be a clinical target for prevention of psychosis in adult survivors of developmental trauma, and for pharmacological and psychological interventions in trauma exposed individuals with psychosis.

Type: Thesis (Doctoral)
Qualification: Ph.D
Title: Trauma induced memory processes underlying psychosis
Language: English
Additional information: Copyright © The Author 2024. Original content in this thesis is licensed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International (CC BY-NC 4.0) Licence (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/). Any third-party copyright material present remains the property of its respective owner(s) and is licensed under its existing terms. Access may initially be restricted at the author’s request.
UCL classification: UCL
UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > School of Life and Medical Sciences
UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > School of Life and Medical Sciences > Faculty of Brain Sciences
UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > School of Life and Medical Sciences > Faculty of Brain Sciences > Division of Psychiatry
URI: https://discovery.ucl.ac.uk/id/eprint/10195069
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