Abstract The present study reported descriptive data on the prevalence and clinical and psychometric correlates of previous exposure to sexual and physical abuse among mixed gender sample of psychiatric outpatients diagnosed with schizophrenia using DSM-IV criteria in Mansoura, Egypt. We enrolled ninety-eight subjects (mean age 35.9 years) with sixty-one (62.2%) males and thirty-seven (37.8%) females. We found an overall lifetime prevalence of 54% in the study sample; 38.8% physical abuse and 19.4% sexual abuse. Cultural difference in reaction to trauma is an interesting issue and could be summarized in the following points. First, the behavior of individuals in Arab culture is determined more by group rather than by those of the individual as in Western culture so that the source of control of behavior is external rather than internal. Hostility is warded off in the family and outside it as well, by the attitude of Maalesh which means “never mind”. Second, religion is central to Muslim self conception, and people with strong religious background believe that all things that happen to a person, both good and bad, are the will of Allah. Thirdly: in Arab culture, children consider application of the authoritarian style of punishment as the normal duty of parents and teachers. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2017 APA, all rights reserved)