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The Difference Between PTSD and C-PTSD

While Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) has been recognized in the medical community since the 1980s, Complex Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (C-PTSD) is a relatively new term and hasn’t yet been listed as a separate mental health condition in the DSM-5 (the manual for mental health assessment). Newer research has begun to tease apart some differences between PTSD and C-PTSD, so what exactly are those differences and how might they impact the therapeutic process?

Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
PTSD is a common response that occurs after a person experiences a traumatic event. This can include anything from a violent attack or car crash to a natural disaster. It can also occur when someone witnesses a horrifying event, even if it didn’t happen directly to them, such as a soldier coming back from war having experienced atrocities in combat.

Complex Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (C-PTSD)
C-PTSD is similar in that it is also a response to trauma, however, it is the result of ongoing or repeated traumas that may have lasted months or years. Situations that can lead to C-PTSD include, but are not limited to: experiencing child abuse or neglect, domestic violence, repeatedly bearing witness to violence or abuse, and torture or kidnapping. A person is more likely to have C-PTSD if the trauma occurred at an early age, it was inflicted by someone close to them, or it was inflicted by someone who the person continues to see on a regular basis.

Symptoms of PTSD like disturbing flashbacks, nightmares, avoiding people or places that are reminders of the trauma, changes in mood and thinking, and feeling on edge are all also present in people who suffer from C-PTSD. However, people with C-PTSD also often have long-term difficulties maintaining relationships, difficulty regulating emotions, periods of losing time or disassociation, an altered perspective of their abuser, physical symptoms (headaches, chest pains, and stomach aches), suicidal thoughts, and feelings of guilt, shame and a lack of self-worth.

Understanding the difference between PTSD and C-PTSD is key for any doctor, psychologist, psychiatrist, or therapist as the treatment can be quite different. PTSD is usually treated with trauma-focused therapies where a person is encouraged to recall and process the trauma in a controlled and safe environment. While the therapy for C-PTSD is similar, a person does need the time to build up the skills needed to be able to process the trauma effectively and safely. This includes being able to regulate strong emotions, create supportive relationships, as well as addressing feelings of shame, worthlessness, and guilt. While therapy for PTSD lasts, on average, 8-12 sessions, the treatment of C-PTSD can take 6 months or more as the individual has usually developed coping strategies to protect themselves that can interfere with the reprocessing.

Both PTSD and C-PTSD are serious (but treatable) mental health disorders that can have a huge impact on a person’s life. If you or someone you know are having symptoms don’t be afraid to reach out to your healthcare provider.