In some different studies, a high prevalence of interpersonal trauma especially childhood abuse as well as posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) has been found in patients with several mental illness (SMI): schizophrenia, schizoaffective and bipolar disorder.

The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of the traumatic life events and PTSD in a sample with SMI.

We enrolled adults patients with schizophrenia, schizoaffective disorder or bipolar I disorder. We excluded patients who score 3 or more in conceptual disorganization, hallucinations and/or unusual contents of the Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale (BPRS) and 4 or more in another item of this scale. Interventions: sociodemographic date and Traumatic Life Events Questionnaire and Distressing Event Questionnaire.

78 patients (52.6% men) with a mean age of 40 years. Diagnostic of the sample: 47.5% schizophrenia, 41% bipolar disorder and 11.5% schizoaffective disorder. Traumatic life events in the childhood: physical abuse, 22.1% (22.5% males and 21.8% females); psychological abuse, 26.9% (14.6% males and 40.5% females, p< 0.05); sexual abuse, 28.2% (21.9% males and 35.1% females).Some abuse in childhood, 48.0% (38.1% males and 62.2% women, p< 0.05).

Sexual abuse in adulthood: 25.6% (43.24% females and 9.7% men, p=0’05).

PTSD, 12.9% (8.3% males and 20.7% females).

Almost the half of the patients have biographical history of traumatic life events in the childhood. These traumatic events are significantly more prevalent in females. In adulthood, almost half of women had suffered sexual abuse.

A fifth part of the women with SMI have comorbidity with PTSD.