Complex post-traumatic stress disorder (C-PTSD) is a clinically recognized condition that results from extended exposure to extremes of social and/or interpersonal trauma, including sexual abuse (especially child sexual abuse), physical abuse, emotional abuse, domestic violence, and torture. A differentiation between the diagnostic categorizations of C-PTSD and that of Post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) has been suggested, as C-PTSD better describes the pervasive negative impact of chronic trauma than does PTSD alone.[1][2] As a descriptor, PTSD fails to capture some of the core characteristics of C-PTSD. These elements include psychological fragmentation, the loss of a sense of safety, trust, and self-worth, as well as the tendency to be revictimized, and, most importantly, the loss of a coherent sense of self. It is this loss of a coherent sense of self, and the ensuing symptom profile, that most pointedly differentiates C-PTSD from PTSD.[3]
Symptom profile
C-PTSD is characterized by chronic difficulties in many areas of emotional and interpersonal functioning. Symptoms may include:[3][2]
-
- Difficulties regulating emotions, including symptoms such as persistent sadness, suicidal thoughts, explosive anger, or covert anger, which is characteristic of passive-aggressive behavior
-
- Variations in consciousness, such as forgetting traumatic events, reliving traumatic events, or having episodes of dissociation (during which one feels detached from one's mental processes or body)
-
- Changes in self-perception, such as a sense of helplessness, shame, guilt, stigma, and a sense of being completely different from other human beings
-
- Varied changes in the perception of the perpetrator, such as attributing total power to the perpetrator or becoming preoccupied with the relationship to the perpetrator, including a preoccupation with revenge
-
- Alterations in relations with others, including isolation, distrust, or a repeated search for a rescuer
-
- Loss of, or changes in, one's system of meanings, which may include a loss of sustaining faith or a sense of hopelessness and despair
Treatment
Treatment for C-PTSD tends to require a multi-modal approach.[4] It has been suggested that treatment for C-PTSD should differ from treatment for PTSD by focusing on problems that cause more functional impairment than the PTSD symptoms. These problems include emotional dysregulation, dissociation, and interpersonal problems.[5] Six suggested core components of complex trauma treatment include:[4]
- Safety
- Self-regulation
- Self-reflective information processing
- Traumatic experiences integration
- Relational engagement
- Positive affect enhancement
Multiple treatments have been suggested for C-PTSD. Among these treatments are group therapy, cognitive behavioral therapy, eye movement desensitizations and reprocessing, and psychodrama. As C-PTSD is a fairly new concept, therapeutic protocols are just being developed.[6] Current medical care includes the use of SSRIs[citation needed], and sometimes the atypical antipsychotics[citation needed].
Since C-PTSD shares symptoms with both PTSD and borderline personality disorder,[7] it is likely that a combination of treatments utilized for these conditions would be helpful for an individual with C-PTSD, such as dialectic behavior therapy and exposure therapy.[citation needed]
See also
Footnotes
- ^ van der Kolk BA, Courtois CA (2005). "Editorial comments: Complex developmental trauma". J Trauma Stress 18 (5): 385–8. doi:. PMID 16281236.
- ^ a b Julia M. Whealin, Ph.D. and Laurie Slone, Ph.D.. "Complex PTSD". National Center for Posttraumatic Stress Disorder. United States Department of Veteran Affairs.
- ^ a b Herman, Judith Lewis (1997). Trauma and recovery: The aftermath of violence from domestic abuse to political terror. Basic Books. pp. 119–122. ISBN 0465087302.
- ^ a b Cook, A.; Blaustein, M.; Spinazzola, J.; Van Der Kolk, B. (2005). "Complex trauma in children and adolescents". Psychiatric Annals 35 (5): 390–398. http://doi.apa.org/?uid=2005-05449-004. Retrieved on 29 March 2008.
- ^ van der Kolk BA, Roth S, Pelcovitz D, Sunday S, Spinazzola J (2005). "Disorders of extreme stress: The empirical foundation of a complex adaptation to trauma". J Trauma Stress 18 (5): 389–99. doi:. PMID 16281237.
- ^ Treating Complex PTSD http://www.cavalcadeproductions.com/ptsd-treatment.html
- ^ Taylor S, Asmundson GJ, Carleton RN (2006). "Simple versus complex PTSD: a cluster analytic investigation". J Anxiety Disord 20 (4): 459–72. doi:. PMID 15979838.
References
- Appleyard, K.; Osofsky, J.D. (2003). "Parenting after trauma: Supporting parents and caregivers in the treatment of children impacted by violence". Infant Mental Health Journal 24 (2): 111–125. doi:.
- Cook, A.; Blaustein, M.;Spinazzola, J.; and van der Kolk, B., (2003) Complex trauma in children and adolescents. White paper from the National Child Traumatic Stress Newtork Complex Trauma Task Force.
- Cook, A., Spinazzola, J., Ford, J., Lanktree, C., et al., (2005) Complex trauma in children and adolescents. Psychiatric Annals, 35, 390-398.
- Herman, JL (1997). Trauma and recovery: The aftermath of violence from domestic abuse to political terror. New York: Basic Books.
- Scott, Catherine V.; Briere, John (2006). Principles of Trauma Therapy : A Guide to Symptoms, Evaluation, and Treatment. Thousand Oaks: Sage Publications. ISBN 0-7619-2921-5.
- Ford JD (1999). "Disorders of extreme stress following war-zone military trauma: associated features of posttraumatic stress disorder or comorbid but distinct syndromes?". J Consult Clin Psychol 67 (1): 3–12. PMID 10028203.
- Roth S, Newman E, Pelcovitz D, van der Kolk B, Mandel FS (1997). "Complex PTSD in victims exposed to sexual and physical abuse: results from the DSM-IV Field Trial for Posttraumatic Stress Disorder". J Trauma Stress 10 (4): 539–55. PMID 9391940.
- van der Kolk, B.A., Roth, S., Pelcovitz, D., Sunday, S., & Spinazzola, J. (2005). "Disorders of extreme stress: the empirical foundation of a complex adaptation to trauma". Journal of Traumatic Stress 18, 389-399.
External links
- Complex post-traumatic stress disorder at the Open Directory Project
- U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs
- Recommended DSM criteria
- Carrot of Hope PTSD group
- Sidran Institute traumatic stress information
1 comment:
Multiple traumatic experiences or child abuse mostly would stem out Post Traumatic Stress Disorder but instead of focusing mainly on symptoms that stick around, we need to stay positive celebrating each sign of progress that we see. We need to remember these facts in mind that we need to create realistic expectations.
Post a Comment