Introduction to the Special Section on Complex Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (CPTSD): The Evolution of a Disorder

Abstract

The inclusion of complex posttraumatic stress disorder (CPTSD) in the 11th revision of the International Classification of Diseases is an important development in the field of psychotraumatology. Complex PTSD was developed as a response to a clinical need to describe difficulties commonly associated with exposure to traumatic stressors that are predominantly of an interpersonal nature. With this special section, we bring attention to this common condition following exposure to traumatic stressors that only recently has been designated an official diagnosis. In this introduction, we review the history of CPTSD as a new condition and we briefly introduce the papers for the special section in the present issue of the Journal of Traumatic Stress. It is our hope that the work presented in the special section will add to an ever-expanding evidence base. We also hope that this work inspires further research on the cultural validity of CPTSD, its assessment, and treatment.

Skills Training in Affective and Interpersonal Regulation Narrative Therapy Delivered via Synchronous Telehealth: A Case Study of a Rural Woman Veteran With Complex Posttraumatic Stress Disorder

“…These symptom clusters are collectively referred to as disturbances in self-organization (DSO) with individual clusters labeled: affective dysregulation, negative self-concept, and disturbances in relationships (WHO, 2019). This recent diagnostic addition is preceded by a body of research examining factor structure, comorbidity and associated symptoms, mediators, and etiology (Karatzias & Levendosky, 2019). In 2015, the International Society for Traumatic Stress Studies (ISTSS) established a Guidelines Committee to update published treatment guidelines for children, adolescents, and adults with PTSD and/or CPTSD.…”

Adverse childhood experiences and somatic symptoms in adulthood: A moderated mediation effects of disturbed self-organization and resilient coping.

“…We examine a mediating role of disturbances in self-organization (DSO), consisting of affective dysregulation, negative self-concept, and disturbances in relationships. DSO symptoms, together with three clusters of PTSD symptoms, form the concept of complex posttraumatic stress disorder (cPTSD), for which growing empirical evidence shows conceptual distinctiveness and clinical usefulness (e.g., Cloitre et al, 2020; Hyland et al, 2017; Karatzias & Levendosky, 2019) and which has been included in the 11th revision of International Classification of Diseases (ICD-11; WHO, 2018). ICD-11 defines cPTSD as a distinct stress-related disorder consistently with earlier conceptualizations (Herman, 1992; van der Kolk et al, 1996) that point out interpersonal nature of serious and repetitive traumatization.…”

The International Trauma Questionnaire: An assessment of the psychometric properties of its Spanish version

“…Several mental disorders have been associated with traumatic experiences during the lifetime, which is conceptualized as psychotrauma [1]. The 5 th edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders of the American Psychiatric Association (DSM-5) and the 11 th edition of the International Classification of Diseases of the World Health Organization (ICD-11) have proposed new perspectives in the classification of disorders related to psychological stress or psychotrauma, particularly on posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and complex posttraumatic stress disorder (CPTSD) [2].…”