Treatment considerations for those with such complex trauma histories are reviewed. The long-term stress response mechanism activation, mediated by the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis, due to chronic stress exposure, can predispose to multiple stress-related psychiatric entities, including PTSD[34]. Stress early in life due to childhood trauma has been reported to result in an adjustment dysfunction of the HPA axis responsiveness upon stress states encountered, with patients with BPD.

There seems to be an increased activation of the HPA axis[35,36], suggesting the association of the main stress regulating mechanism to childhood trauma and a biological correlation to the development of the borderline personality. Complex post-traumatic stress disorder (CPTSD) can result from experiencing chronic trauma, such as prolonged child abuse or domestic violence. But there’s another type of trauma that’s a bit newer to the world of psychology. It’s called complex post-traumatic stress disorder — a subtype or variant of the classic form of PTSD. Treatment studies specifically designed to examine clinical outcomes of psychological and pharmacological treatment of PTSD in those with versus without the dissociative subtype are needed.

Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)

Think of this experience as a  significant feeling of detachment from your body. Some people even feel completely alienated from it, unable to recognize their own hands or face. If you’re in a relationship, you may want to consider couple’s therapy for extra support.

Living with C-PTSD can change how you feel about yourself, those around you, and life in general. In a 2017 study, C-PTSD was actually found to be more common than PTSD based on ICD-11 criteria. C-PTSD overlaps with PTSD, but it also has some unique symptoms, such as dissociation and negative self-image. As CPTSD is a newer diagnosis, research is lacking on how common the condition is. But experts estimate that it may affect 1% to 8% of the world population. Experts across the field of psychology disagree on if CPTSD is a distinct condition and diagnosis.

Symptoms of complex PTSD

In addition, the person must show problems with self-regulation, low self-esteem, a sense of shame or guilt related to past trauma, and problems maintaining relationships with others. The ICD-11 states that a clinician https://ecosoberhouse.com/ must determine that a person meets all the criteria for traditional PTSD before diagnosing complex PTSD. When this happens, a person’s brain can perceive that they are in danger, even if they are not.

The abuse often occurs at vulnerable times in a person’s life—such as early childhood or adolescence—and can create lifelong challenges. Because the condition is relatively new and not recognized in the DSM-5, doctors may make a diagnosis of PTSD instead of complex PTSD. Since there is not a specific test to determine the difference between PTSD and C-PTSD, you should keep track of the symptoms you have experienced so that you can describe them to your doctor.

Complex Posttraumatic Stress Disorder

Complex PTSD, on the other hand, is related to a series of traumatic events over time or one prolonged event. The symptoms of complex PTSD can be similar but more enduring and extreme than those of PTSD. Cognitive processing therapy (CPT) is another type of trauma-focused therapy. This treatment focuses on addressing the distressing and often ptsd blackouts problematic thoughts and emotions that have developed since the traumatic event(s). CPTSD and borderline personality disorder (BPD) share several similar symptoms, such as impulsive behavior, feelings of worthlessness and difficulty forming lasting relationships. Because of this, some experts wonder if these conditions are actually distinct.