Journal Article

Complex post-traumatic stress disorder

Khoury, Brigitte, Cloitre, Marylene, Maercker, Andreas, Bohus, Martin, Bachem, Rahel, Schlumpf, Yolanda R., Hitchcock, Caitlin

2022

Overview

Complex post-traumatic stress disorder (complex PTSD) is a severe mental disorder that emerges in response to traumatic life events. Complex PTSD is characterised by three core post-traumatic symptom clusters, along with chronic and pervasive disturbances in emotion regulation, identity, and relationships. Complex PTSD has been adopted as a new diagnosis in the ICD-11. Individuals with complex PTSD typically have sustained or multiple exposures to trauma, such as childhood abuse and domestic or community violence. The disorder has a 1–8% population prevalence and up to 50% prevalence in mental health facilities. Progress in diagnostics, assessment, and differentiation from post-traumatic stress disorder and borderline personality disorder is reported, along with assessment and treatment of children and adolescents. Studies recommend multicomponent therapies starting with a focus on safety, psychoeducation, and patient-provider collaboration, and treatment components that include self-regulatory strategies and trauma-focused interventions.

• Publisher: Elsevier Ltd,Elsevier Limited
• Subject: Aggression / Borderline personality disorder / Child & adolescent mental health / Children / Domestic violence / Endorsements / Health care facilities / Mental disorders / Mental health / Post traumatic stress disorder / Psychological stress / Sex crimes / Threats / Trauma