• Mental Health
    • Anxiety
    • Depression
    • Bipolar Disorder
    • ADHD
    • Addiction
      • What is Addiction?
      • What Are Behavioral Addictions?
      • Addiction vs Dependence
      • Addiction Myths vs Facts
      • Addiction Statistics
      • How to Help a Friend
      • Find an Addiction Specialist
    • Eating Disorders
    • Personality Disorders
      • Obsessive Compulsive Personality Disorder
        • OCD vs. OCPD
    • Trauma
      • Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder
        • PTSD & COVID-19
      • Childhood Trauma
    • Sexual Disorders
      • Anorgasmia
      • Female Sexual Arousal Disorder (FSAD)
      • Hypoactive Sexual Desire Disorder (HSDD)
      • Premature Ejaculation (PE)
      • Delayed Ejaculation
    • Schizophrenia
  • Therapy Techniques
    • Online Therapy
      • Best Online Therapy
      • Online Therapy for Teens
      • Best LGBTQ Online Therapy
      • Best Online Therapy for Insurance
    • Psychotherapy
    • Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
      • CBT for Anxiety
      • CBT for Social Anxiety
      • CBT for Panic Disorder
      • CBT for Insomnia
      • CBT Online
    • Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT)
      • DBT for Teens
    • Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)
    • Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR)
      • EMDR for PTSD
      • EMDR for Anxiety
      • EMDR Online
    • Art Therapy
    • Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA)
    • Exposure and Response Prevention
    • Group Therapy
    • Hypnotherapy
    • Motivational Interviewing
    • Person Centered Therapy
    • Rational Emotive Behavioral Therapy
    • Sex Therapy
  • Types of Therapists
    • Faith-Based & Christian Counselors
    • Life Coaching
    • Family Therapist
      • Child & Teen Counseling
    • Marriage & Couples Counselors
      • Premarital Counseling
    • Psychiatrist
      • Psychology vs. Psychiatry
    • Psychotherapist
    • Grief Counselors
    • Online Therapists
  • Starting Therapy FAQ
    • Does Therapy Work?
      • How to Find a Therapist
      • Helping a Friend or Loved One
    • How to Choose a Therapist
      • Finding a Black Therapist
      • Finding a Latinx Therapist
      • Finding an LGBTQ-Friendly Therapist
      • Finding a Therapist as a Young Adult
      • Finding an Online Therapist
    • Preparing for Your First Session
    • Types of Mental Health Professionals
    • Mental Health Insurance
      • HSAs for Therapy
      • Sliding Scale Therapy Fees
    • Mental Health in the Workplace
      • Asking for a Mental Health Day
      • Taking Time Off for Mental Health
    • Top Mental Health Organizations
      • Mental Health Resources Outside the U.S.
  • About Us
    • About Us
    • Editorial Policy
    • Advertising Policy
    • Privacy Policy
    • Contact Us
    • Write for Us
    • Join the Directory
    • Careers
  • Therapist Directory
    • Find a Therapist
    • Join the Directory
    • Directory Login
  • Mental Health
    • Anxiety
    • Depression
    • Bipolar Disorder
    • ADHD
    • Addiction
      • What is Addiction?
      • What Are Behavioral Addictions?
      • Addiction vs Dependence
      • Addiction Myths vs Facts
      • Addiction Statistics
      • How to Help a Friend
      • Find an Addiction Specialist
    • Eating Disorders
    • Personality Disorders
      • Obsessive Compulsive Personality Disorder
        • OCD vs. OCPD
    • Trauma
      • Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder
        • PTSD & COVID-19
      • Childhood Trauma
    • Sexual Disorders
      • Anorgasmia
      • Female Sexual Arousal Disorder (FSAD)
      • Hypoactive Sexual Desire Disorder (HSDD)
      • Premature Ejaculation (PE)
      • Delayed Ejaculation
    • Schizophrenia
  • Therapy Techniques
    • Online Therapy
      • Best Online Therapy
      • Online Therapy for Teens
      • Best LGBTQ Online Therapy
      • Best Online Therapy for Insurance
    • Psychotherapy
    • Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
      • CBT for Anxiety
      • CBT for Social Anxiety
      • CBT for Panic Disorder
      • CBT for Insomnia
      • CBT Online
    • Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT)
      • DBT for Teens
    • Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)
    • Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR)
      • EMDR for PTSD
      • EMDR for Anxiety
      • EMDR Online
    • Art Therapy
    • Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA)
    • Exposure and Response Prevention
    • Group Therapy
    • Hypnotherapy
    • Motivational Interviewing
    • Person Centered Therapy
    • Rational Emotive Behavioral Therapy
    • Sex Therapy
  • Types of Therapists
    • Faith-Based & Christian Counselors
    • Life Coaching
    • Family Therapist
      • Child & Teen Counseling
    • Marriage & Couples Counselors
      • Premarital Counseling
    • Psychiatrist
      • Psychology vs. Psychiatry
    • Psychotherapist
    • Grief Counselors
    • Online Therapists
  • Starting Therapy FAQ
    • Does Therapy Work?
      • How to Find a Therapist
      • Helping a Friend or Loved One
    • How to Choose a Therapist
      • Finding a Black Therapist
      • Finding a Latinx Therapist
      • Finding an LGBTQ-Friendly Therapist
      • Finding a Therapist as a Young Adult
      • Finding an Online Therapist
    • Preparing for Your First Session
    • Types of Mental Health Professionals
    • Mental Health Insurance
      • HSAs for Therapy
      • Sliding Scale Therapy Fees
    • Mental Health in the Workplace
      • Asking for a Mental Health Day
      • Taking Time Off for Mental Health
    • Top Mental Health Organizations
      • Mental Health Resources Outside the U.S.
  • About Us
    • About Us
    • Editorial Policy
    • Advertising Policy
    • Privacy Policy
    • Contact Us
    • Write for Us
    • Join the Directory
    • Careers
  • Therapist Directory
    • Find a Therapist
    • Join the Directory
    • Directory Login
Skip to content

Can PTSD Cause Hallucinations & Psychosis?

Published: November 14, 2022 Updated: January 4, 2023
Published: 11/14/2022 Updated: 01/04/2023
Headshot of Silvi Saxena, MBA, MSW, LSW, CCTP, OSW-C
Written by:

Silvi Saxena

MBA, MSW, LSW, CCTP, OSW-C
Headshot of Benjamin Troy, MD
Reviewed by:

Heidi Moawad

MD
  • What Is Post Traumatic Stress Disorder?What Is PTSD?
  • What Is Psychosis?What Is Psychosis?
  • Psychosis Symptoms in PTSDPsychosis Symptoms
  • Can PTSD Cause Psychosis?Can PTSD Cause Psychosis?
  • PTSD TreatmentTreatment Options
  • Final ThoughtsConclusion
  • Additional ResourcesResources
Headshot of Silvi Saxena, MBA, MSW, LSW, CCTP, OSW-C
Written by:

Silvi Saxena

MBA, MSW, LSW, CCTP, OSW-C
Headshot of Benjamin Troy, MD
Reviewed by:

Heidi Moawad

MD

It is not uncommon for those with PTSD to experience symptoms related to psychosis, such as hallucinations. Sometimes, these symptoms can indicate trauma that is unresolved and in need of addressing. PTSD is a complex diagnosis, and it is important to consider all the ways it can impact you. However, this is a condition that can be managed with effective treatment.

Find a supportive therapist that specializes in treating PTSD. BetterHelp has over 20,000 licensed therapists who provide convenient and affordable online therapy. BetterHelp starts at $60 per week. Complete a brief questionnaire and get matched with the right therapist for you.

Choosing Therapy partners with leading mental health companies and is compensated for marketing by BetterHelp

Visit BetterHelp

What Is Post Traumatic Stress Disorder?

Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a mental health condition that results from experiencing a traumatic event, or being in a situation with prolonged exposure to traumatic events. Examples of this include being in active war zones, experiencing abuse, and surviving natural disasters or traumatic accidents.

PTSD symptoms are composed of four clusters:

  • Hypervigilance
  • Avoidance behaviors
  • Intrusive memories and reliving the trauma
  • Negative changes in thinking and mood

What Is Psychosis?

Psychotic disorders (psychosis) are mental health conditions in which people lose touch with reality. Episodes can involve hearing or seeing things that aren’t there, and can lead to high levels of distress.6

Positive Symptoms

During a psychotic episode, a person will experience positive symptoms (new, abnormal symptoms), which include uncomfortable feelings, intrusive thoughts, and risky or unusual behavior.

The positive symptoms of psychosis include:

  • Delusions: These are ideas one develops and believes are true, even if there is a very high likelihood of these ideas being completely false.
  • Hallucinations: Hallucinations are false experiences that affect a person’s senses. This may include hearing, seeing, smelling, or tasting things that aren’t real.
  • Disorganized behaviors: One may be incoherent, use made-up words or sentence patterns that don’t make any sense, or act in unusual and bizarre ways.6

Negative Symptoms

Negative symptoms refer to the absence of normal behaviors. This can be hard to characterize–understanding negative symptoms as the absence of emotional response is the best way to imagine them. It can be challenging for people with negative symptoms to express an emotion, because they may not be in touch with such. In these cases, a person may display flat affect, blunted affect, or seem generally withdrawn.6

Psychosis Symptoms in PTSD

PTSD can be a precursor to psychosis. Some symptoms of PTSD can overlap with the occurrence of positive psychosis symptoms, such as visual hallucinations and hearing voices that are not there. Experiencing severe shock or violent and sudden death, such as in a war zone or domestic violence, are contributing factors.6

Hallucinations in PTSD

Those with PTSD can experience hallucinations due to the psychopathology of how trauma changes the brain. The brain is impacted in a way that might cause it to create new pathways to process information. Certain parts of the brain become more or less activated, which is why some individuals may experience hallucinations.6

Flashbacks & Dissociation in PTSD

Flashbacks and dissociation tend to go hand-in-hand for many who have experienced trauma. Adverse childhood events, such as abuse or neglect, are a huge risk factor for developing a dissociative disorder–children and adults who’ve experienced this type of trauma make up a large portion of those with dissociative disorders, which can be indicative of PTSD.

Due to ongoing childhood trauma, children might be conditioned to function in dysfunction. Thus, mild dissociation as a coping strategy could become chronic, causing someone to disconnect from their body. Children may also develop ongoing flashbacks into adulthood, and trauma related symptoms can lead to PTSD or C-PTSD over time.2

Help For Trauma / PTSD

Talk Therapy – Get help recovering from trauma from a licensed therapist. Betterhelp offers online therapy starting at $60 per week. Get matched With A Therapist


Virtual Psychiatry – Get help from a real doctor that takes your insurance. Talkiatry offers medication management and online visits with top-rated psychiatrists. Take the online assessment and have your first appointment within a week. Free Assessment


Guided Psychedelic Journeys – Ketamine is a prescription medication that clinicians can prescribe off-label to treat trauma, depression, anxiety, and OCD. Innerwell pairs ketamine with support from licensed psychotherapists. Find out if you’re a good candidate: Take Online Assessment 

Choosing Therapy partners with leading mental health companies and is compensated for marketing by BetterHelp, Talkiatry, and Innerwell.

Can PTSD Cause Psychosis?

If left untreated, PTSD symptoms may increase a person’s risk of experiencing psychosis. It is estimated that half of those diagnosed with PTSD also experience psychosis at some point in their life. Those who have been subjected to combat or domestic violence are more at risk for psychosis symptoms.4

However, having this condition doesn’t necessarily mean a person will suffer psychosis.

There are other factors unrelated to one’s PTSD that can influence a psychotic episode. For example, psychosis may indicate an underlying mental health condition, such as bipolar disorder, dissociative disorder, schizophrenia, or delusional disorder.

PTSD & Schizophrenia

PTSD cannot directly cause schizophrenia, but those who have experienced extreme trauma are more at risk of developing the disorder. Moreover, schizophrenia and PTSD can occur comorbidly. Luckily, there are treatment options fit for those who struggle with both conditions.3

PTSD Treatment

Seeking professional help may be the best first step in your PTSD recovery, especially if you are dealing with hallucinations and psychosis. Signs that you may want to speak with a therapist or counselor include general insecurities being exacerbated, anxiety, depression, anger, rage, and any other kind of distress.

Therapy

Therapy can be beneficial for those living with PTSD. Finding the right therapist will also help you deal with emotional blunting. Working to understand where this lack of emotion stems from, and how to respond to it, can allow you to ensure your important relationships and connections stay intact. Couples or family therapy may also be considered, depending on individual situations. If you’re wondering where to begin, you can start by using an online therapist directory, with which you can locate a professional who can assist you with PTSD symptoms.

Some common therapy options for PTSD include:

  • Dialectical behavioral therapy (DBT): DBT sessions focus on teaching a person mindfulness, distress tolerance, emotional regulation, and interpersonal skills. These skills help people learn how to accept themselves without judgment, acknowledge their emotions, improve communication, and better manage complex situations.1
  • Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT): CBT aims to help people identify patterns of negative thoughts, and how these thoughts lead to actions. The goal of CBT is to challenge people to identify their thoughts and feelings, and replace the negative ones with positive ones.2

Medications

Medications can be effective in treating psychosis related to trauma. Many times, these experiences are indicative of a larger issue. Therefore, taking medications in conjunction with talk therapy is a common approach to PTSD treatment. It’s important to consider all your options before pursuing a medication regimen. Be sure to discuss this with your medical team before starting or stopping any medications.

Final Thoughts

What you’re struggling with may seem unique to you, but remember that you’re not alone. Living with hallucinations and flashbacks can be scary and frustrating, but there are ways to heal and experience relief. Talking to a therapist who specializes in PTSD psychosis will make a big difference in how you feel. Together, you and your therapist will develop a plan to help you better regulate these difficult emotions.

Additional Resources

Education is just the first step on our path to improved mental health and emotional wellness. To help our readers take the next step in their journey, Choosing Therapy has partnered with leaders in mental health and wellness. Choosing Therapy may be compensated for marketing by the companies mentioned below.

Online Therapy 

BetterHelp – Get support and guidance from a licensed therapist. BetterHelp has over 20,000 therapists who provide convenient and affordable online therapy.  Complete a brief questionnaire and get matched with the right therapist for you. Get Started

Virtual Psychiatry

Talkiatry – Get help from a real doctor that takes your insurance. Talkiatry offers medication management and online visits with top-rated psychiatrists. Take the online assessment and have your first appointment within a week. Free Assessment

Trauma & Abuse Newsletter

A free newsletter for those impacted by trauma or abuse. Get encouragement, helpful tips, and the latest information. Sign Up

Mindfulness

Mindfulness.com – Change your life by practicing mindfulness. In a few minutes a day, you can start developing mindfulness and meditation skills. Free Trial

Guided Psychedelic Journeys

Innerwell – Ketamine is a prescription medication that clinicians can prescribe off-label to treat trauma, depression, anxiety, and OCD. Innerwell pairs ketamine with support from licensed psychotherapists. Find out if you’re a good candidate: Take Online Assessment 

Choosing Therapy Directory 

You can search for therapists by specialty, experience, insurance, or price, and location. Find a therapist today.

Choosing Therapy partners with leading mental health companies and is compensated for marketing by BetterHelp, Talkiatry, Innerwell, and Mindfulness.com

For Further Reading

  • Mental Health America
  • National Alliance on Mental Health
  • MentalHealth.gov

PTSD Hallucinations & Psychosis Infographics

What Is Post Traumatic Stress Disorder?   Psychosis Symptoms in PTSD   Can PTSD Cause Psychosis?

6 sources

Choosing Therapy strives to provide our readers with mental health content that is accurate and actionable. We have high standards for what can be cited within our articles. Acceptable sources include government agencies, universities and colleges, scholarly journals, industry and professional associations, and other high-integrity sources of mental health journalism. Learn more by reviewing our full editorial policy.

  • Krynicki, C. R., et al. (2018). The relationship between negative symptoms and depression in schizophrenia: a systematic review. Acta Psychiatrica Scandinavica, 137(5), 380-390.

  • Read, J., & Williams, J. (2018). Adverse effects of antidepressants reported by a large international cohort: emotional blunting, suicidality, and withdrawal effects. Current drug safety, 13(3), 176-186.

  • Luhrmann, T. M., et al. (2019). Beyond trauma: A multiple pathways approach to auditory hallucinations in clinical and nonclinical populations. Schizophrenia Bulletin, 45 (Supplement_1), S24-S31.

  • Hardy, A., et al. (2021). A network analysis of post-traumatic stress and psychosis symptoms. Psychological Medicine, 51(14), 2485-2492.

  • Buswell, G., Haime, Z., Lloyd-Evans, B., & Billings, J. (2021). A systematic review of PTSD to the experience of psychosis: prevalence and associated factors. BMC psychiatry, 21(1), 1-13.

  • Lyndon, S., & Corlett, P. R. (2020). Hallucinations in posttraumatic stress disorder: Insights from predictive coding. Journal of Abnormal Psychology, 129(6), 534.

Recent Articles

Sexual Assault PTSD
Sexual Assault PTSD: Definition, Signs, & Treatment
Sexual assault post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a mental health disorder a person may develop after experiencing a sexual...
';
Financial Trauma_ Symptoms_ Causes_ _ How to Cope
Financial Trauma: Symptoms, Causes, & How to Cope
Financial trauma refers to the emotional, cognitive, relational, and physical symptoms triggered by significant financial stressors. These stressors can...
';
The 3 Stages of Trauma Recovery
The 3 Stages of Trauma Recovery
Survivors of trauma have been shown to heal in three stages, during which they work to re-establish their sense...
';
Meditation for PTSD: How It Helps & Exercises to Try
Meditation for PTSD: How It Helps & Exercises to Try
Meditation for Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is considered a complementary and alternative medicine (CAM), and has been found to...
';
FT Dating Someone with PTSD
Dating Someone With PTSD: What You Should Know & 9 Tips
For those dating someone with PTSD, you're already aware that there is much more to your partner than their...
';
What Are the Different Types of PTSD
What Are the Different Types of PTSD?
Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is not limited to one presentation with multiple, including uncomplicated, complex, dissociative, and comorbid...
';
Headshot of Silvi Saxena, MBA, MSW, LSW, CCTP, OSW-C
Written by:

Silvi Saxena

MBA, MSW, LSW, CCTP, OSW-C
Headshot of Benjamin Troy, MD
Reviewed by:

Heidi Moawad

MD
  • What Is Post Traumatic Stress Disorder?What Is PTSD?
  • What Is Psychosis?What Is Psychosis?
  • Psychosis Symptoms in PTSDPsychosis Symptoms
  • Can PTSD Cause Psychosis?Can PTSD Cause Psychosis?
  • PTSD TreatmentTreatment Options
  • Final ThoughtsConclusion
  • Additional ResourcesResources
If you are in need of immediate medical help:
Medical
Emergency
911
Suicide Hotline
800-273-8255
See more Crisis Hotlines
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Write for Us
  • Careers
  • Editorial Policy
  • Advertising Policy
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of Service
  • No Surprises Act
For immediate help call:
Medical Emergency:
911
Suicide Hotline:
988
Click For More Crisis Hotlines
For immediate help call:
Medical Emergency:
911
Suicide Hotline:
811
See more Crisis Hotlines
here
logo
This site complies with the HONcode standard for trustworthy health information:
verify here.
This website is certified by Health On the Net Foundation. Click to verify.
Choosing Therapy Logo
We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. By clicking “Accept”, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies. However, you may visit Cookie Settings to provide controlled consent. Cookie settings ACCEPT
Privacy & Cookies Policy

Privacy Overview

We use cookies to facilitate website functionality. Also, we use third-party cookies to track your website behavior and target advertising. These cookies are stored in your browser only with your consent, and you have the choice of opting out.
Necessary
Always Enabled

Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. These cookies do not store any personal information.

Non Necessary

Any cookies that may not be particularly necessary for the website to function and is used specifically to collect user personal data via analytics, ads, other embedded contents are termed as non-necessary cookies. It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website.

Save & Accept