Childhood abuse in first-episode psychosis.

Of 38 adult patients admitted for first-episode psychosis, 20 reported childhood abuse, with equal prevalence in men and women. Patients with histories of childhood abuse had significantly more dissociative symptoms, but not more severe psychiatric symptoms. Childhood abuse was not related to rate of recovery and was only marginally related to longer stays in hospital. Although childhood abuse did not affect recovery during first-episode psychosis, it may contribute to a chronic course in some patients.