Can computational models help elucidate the link between complex trauma and hallucinations?
Résumé
Recently, a number of predictive coding models have been proposed to account for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)'s symptomatology, including intrusions, flashbacks and hallucinations. These models were usually developed to account for traditional/type-1 PTSD. We here discuss whether these models also apply or can be translated to the case of complex/type-2 PTSD and childhood trauma (cPTSD). The distinction between PTSD and cPTSD is important because the disorders differ in terms of symptomatology and potential mechanisms, how they relate to developmental stages, but also in terms of illness trajectory and treatment. Models of complex trauma could give us insights on hallucinations in physiological/pathological conditions or more generally on the development of intrusive experiences across diagnostic classes.