Complex post-traumatic stress disorder

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 selfregulatory strategies and trauma-focused interventions.

Automated summary

Complex PTSD is a severe mental disorder that occurs in response to traumatic life events. It is characterized by multiple severe post-traumatic symptoms and chronic and pervasive disturbances in emotion regulation, identity, and relationships. Progress has been made in the diagnosis and treatment of complex PTSD, with an emphasis on safety, psychoeducation, patient-provider collaboration, and self-regulatory strategies.