Many patients with psychosis and schizophrenia spectrum disorders (SSDs) have
experienced trauma. However, trauma-focused therapy is not routinely offered in mental
health care. According to a recent systematic review by our research group, research
suggests that trauma-focused (TF) treatments such as TF Cognitive Behavioral Therapy
for psychosis (TF-CBTp) and Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing for
psychosis (EMDRp) are safe and feasible in patients with trauma and psychosis. Results
for effects on symptoms of psychosis, anxiety, and depression, and psychosocial
functioning are mixed. The Key to Integrated Trauma Treatment in Psychosis (KIT)
trial is a pragmatic, assessor-blinded, parallel 2-group, superiority randomized trial
comparing the trauma-focused therapies EMDR and TF-CBTp to a waiting list and
treatment-as-usual group on symptoms of trauma in patients with psychosis. Patients are
randomized (1:1, block randomization by center and gender) to trauma-focused therapy
or waiting list from 2025 to 2028. The KIT trial is a multicenter study aiming to include
187 patients from all health regions in Norway. The primary goal is to examine the
effect of TF treatment on symptoms of trauma in psychosis, with secondary aims related
to the impact on other symptoms and personalization of treatment (what works for
whom). Preliminary data related to the implementation and initial feasibility of the KIT
trial will be presented, and this will be discussed in light of available published research
on TF treatment for trauma and psychosis.