Is it possible for psychotic symptoms to cause PTSD

The proposed subject for my doctoral project is a theoretical exploration of the possible interrelatedness of trauma and psychosis. The question I propose to focus on is whether or not it is possible that posttraumatic stress disorder can be brought about by purely internal stimuli. Traditionally, when thinking about trauma the concept is of an external incident or event that is either threatening or damaging to those who experience it. Common examples of experiences that are widely acknowledged to have a potentially traumatizing effect on people are natural disasters or violence either directed towards or witnessed by the individual. However, there are disorders primarily along the psychotic spectrum, in which the individual is confronted with perceived threats to their mental and physical well-being that come from within rather than without. These can include hallucinations of a particularly violent, frightening or commanding nature, delusional concepts that can inspire fear or paranoia, or, in some cases, the belief that they themselves are a threat to others. Is it possible that psychotic symptoms, such as these can, in fact, have a traumatizing effect on those who suffer from them? If so, could the effects of said symptoms be felt in the patient's life even after the hallucinations have been treated and controlled with medication or are in remission? I will be endeavoring to explore this issue by reviewing the existing literature on this subject as well as other literature focusing specifically on psychosis/schizophrenia and trauma/PTSD. The final chapter will be a discussion of the correlations between the two disorders and whether or not sufficient evidence exists of a potential link between the two.