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The relationship between traumatic experience and psychosis is exemplified in this paper by two cases. The first patient was described by Maurycy Bornstein in 1916. The other is a Holocaust survivor currently provided psychotherapy by the author. Both cases demonstrate that trauma may underpin psychotic disorders and that the contents of psychotic symptoms may closely relate to traumatic experiences. Interpretation of symptom contents depends largely on the therapist’s ability to recognize trauma cues in the material provided by the patient. The Bornstein case shows how difficult it can be for us therapists to hear contents that relate to our repressed fears since such cues undermine our sense of security and comprehensibility of the surrounding world. The other case evidences the constant presence of the “Shoah complex” involving guilt feelings, and also the resulting difficulties in thinking and talking about the Holocaust in the community of therapists in Poland. The essential component of any therapy for people with psychotic symptoms and a history of trauma consists in helping them to connect these events and contain feelings of fear, shame and guilt. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Participants in the study were Jewish Holocaust survivors (n =89). A total of 70 respondents constituted the trauma group. The remaining 19 participants were regarded as the controls. The control group consisted of persons of Jewish nationality who had experienced the trauma of anti-Semitic persecution, but their life had not been directly threatened. The aim of the study was to find out whether feelings of guilt and shame are still present in narratives of the Holocaust survivors, years after their traumatic experiences. A quantitative analysis of responses concerning guilt and shame feelings revealed no significant differences between the study group and the controls. The paper presents a historical outline of thought regarding survivors’ guilt and shame. Combining data reported in the literature and contemporary narratives of the survivors, it can be hypothesized that we are confronted with a dynamic process of the survivor''s working through grief and bereavement. An open question remains whether the bereavement process can be completed in survivors – it is difficult to complete because of the extent of trauma. Completion of the process is perhaps possible, but requires more time, besides, some conditions must be fulfilled first – particularly, a place for the Jewish Holocaust should be acknowledged and affirmed not only in personal narratives, but also in social discourse. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]