What is complex PTSD?

Many people are familiar with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). This condition can develop in response to traumatic experiences like violence, accidents, bullying, or abuse, and it’s especially common after repeated trauma.

Complex PTSD (or c-PTSD) is a form of the disorder that has several additional characteristics beyond those of standard PTSD. It typically develops after prolonged trauma, and it’s more common if someone experiences trauma repeatedly over an extended time. Children exposed to ongoing trauma, particularly if it’s caused by a caregiver, are especially vulnerable.

C-PTSD is a relatively new concept, first proposed in the 1980s by psychiatrist and professor Judith Herman, MD.1 It’s worth noting that the American Psychiatric Association’s current diagnostic manual, the DSM-5, doesn’t yet recognize c-PTSD as a diagnosable condition. However, the World Health Organization does recognize c-PTSD in the latest version of its International Disease Classification (ICD-11), which was published in 2019 and came into effect in 2022.

Complex PTSD vs. PTSD

Both PTSD and c-PTSD result from trauma. Each condition causes fear and anxiety that’s often triggered by the memory of previous traumatic events. People diagnosed with either condition may experience flashbacks, nightmares, or insomnia.

Often,  c-PTSD and PTSD are distinguished by the kind of trauma that caused each condition to develop. While PTSD can develop from a single, standalone traumatic event (as well as from prolonged trauma), complex PTSD generally develops when trauma happens repeatedly over a sustained period.3

People with c-PTSD tend to have extreme symptoms of PTSD and also have difficulty regulating their emotions, view themselves negatively, and struggle to maintain healthy relationships.4

Read the full article written by the therapist.com team reviewed by Susan Radzilowski, MSW, LMSW, ACSW last updated: 05/15/2024 at https://therapist.com/disorders/complex-ptsd/?utm_campaign=tcom_articles&utm_medium=email&_hsenc=p2ANqtz-__8h7sRjCQOj4H58bvJpQ2-eQoPm3QHFX6rnEqX8fXV6Yd2JJV3KKVzC9DrPta3bxXC0tmhzu0Mn75H_djcOMxGMUbRw&_hsmi=307438782&utm_content=307438860&utm_source=hs_email