In this episode Haylie and Clare discuss complex PTSD and how it differs from PTSD. (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder)
PTSD is generally related to a single event, while complex PTSD is related to a series of events, or one prolonged event.
Symptoms of PTSD can arise after a traumatic episode, such as a car collision, an earthquake, or sexual assault.
PTSD affects 7–8 percent of Americans at some point in their lives. Symptoms may result from changes in some regions of the brain that deal with emotion, memory, and reasoning. Affected areas may include the amygdala, the hippocampus, and the prefrontal cortex.
The symptoms of complex PTSD can be more enduring and extreme than those of PTSD.
Some mental health professionals have started to distinguish between the two conditions, despite the lack of guidance from the DSM-5.
A doctor may diagnose complex PTSD when a person has experienced trauma on an ongoing basis.
Most frequently, this trauma involves long-term physical, emotional, or sexual abuse.
The following are some examples of trauma that can cause complex PTSD:
experiencing childhood neglect
experiencing other types of abuse early in life
experiencing domestic abuse
experiencing human trafficking
being a prisoner of war
living in a region affected by war
Is complex PTSD a separate condition?
The International Classification of Diseases (ICD) identifies complex PTSD as a separate condition, though the DSM-5 currently does not.
Complex PTSD is a relatively recent concept. Because of its variable nature, healthcare professionals may instead diagnose another condition. They may be especially likely to diagnose borderline personality disorder (BPD).
Some researchers have identified areas of substantial overlap between complex PTSD and BPD.
However, the conditions may also have differences. Authors of a study from 2014 reported that, for example, people with complex PTSD had consistently negative self-conceptions, while people with BPD had self-conceptions that were unstable and changing.
People with complex PTSD may experience difficulties with relationships. They tend to avoid others and may feel a lack of connection.
BPD can cause a person to swing between idealizing and undervaluing others, resulting in relationship difficulties.
It is possible for a person with BPD to also experience complex PTSD, and the combination may result in additional symptoms.
A person with complex PTSD may experience symptoms in addition to those that characterize PTSD.
Common symptoms of PTSD and complex PTSD include:
reliving the trauma through flashbacks and nightmares
avoiding situations that remind them of the trauma
dizziness or nausea when remembering the trauma
hyperarousal, which means being in a continual state of high alert
the belief that the world is a dangerous place
a loss of trust in the self or others
difficulty sleeping or concentrating
being startled by loud noises