Case study: trauma-related hallucinations.

Proper differential diagnosis of psychiatric disorders with psychotic symptoms is imperative, as the treatment implications of the various conditions are quite different. A case study of a 5-year-old abused child with posttraumatic stress disorder is presented to illustrate some of the characteristic features of psychotic symptoms in traumatized children. Literature reviewed suggests that trauma-related hallucinations frequently contain content which is related to children's life experiences, are exacerbated by "triggers" and safety concerns, resolve with psychotherapy or psychosocial interventions, and are resistant to standard neuroleptic treatments. They are also associated with unique clinical, familial, developmental, and psychobiological correlates, and they require multifaceted treatment interventions.