Prevalence of Complex Post Traumatic Stress Disorder

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CPTSD, a planned revision for the PTSD section of the upcoming DSM V, is described as a chronic form of PTSD caused by prolonged exposure to environmental stresses. These stresses include but are not limited to kidnapping, torture, chronic domestic violence, chronic physical and/or sexual abuse, war (what used to be called shell shock) and living through and the aftermath of natural disasters. While not officially included in most of the professional literature chronic persistent bullying has also been linked to CPSTD.

After researching CPSTD I have come to suspect that I may have it. I was subjected to chronic bullying, sexual and physical abuse and chronic verbal abuse during my childhood.

I would like to know how many of the WP community either suspect they may have or have been diagnosed with CPTSD, and how you have managed to overcome or deal with its symptoms.

Thanks,
Arthur Nonimus

Hmm....seems like a sound revision for PTSD.

Please correct me if i'm wrong, but the only difference between PTSD and CPTSD is in the duration of the symptoms correct?

While I think I do exhibit some of the symptoms associated with PTSD/CPTSD (due to extreme bullying, emotional/physical abuse from family and so-called friends, etc...) I really don't think I meet the diagnostic criteria.

I've never been formally Dx-ed with PTSD either and i've had five full neuropsychological evaluations in my life.

That's not to say i'm not an extremely anxious and depressed person.....i'm one of the *most* anxious and depressed people in the world. I just don't think this anxiety and depression has too much to do with the environmental stresses i've endured.

My own socioemotional problems seem to come much more from within than without.

Not quite, possibly my explanation was not clear enough. CPSTD describes the chronic issues caused by long term physiological trauma. These include "captivity, psychological fragmentation, the loss of a sense of safety, trust, and self-worth, as well as the tendency to be re-victimized, and, most importantly, the loss of a coherent sense of self" PTSD usually involves fear about a specific subject (ie a car accident may cause abnormally strong phobia of all thing to do with driving cars). Other aspects such as reliving events (flash backs), emotional distress and mood disorders, social phobias and persistent avoidance of situations which bear similarities to the stress event are shared by both conditions. CPTSD relates specifically to the damage to the individuals identity, sense of self worth, sense of safety and security within the individuals normal environment and ability to trust other caused by the prolonged traumatic stressing events.

PTSD revolves around a single incident, or some identifiable incidents. CPTSD will apply to chronic exposure to threat.

"C-PTSD better describes the pervasive negative impact of chronic repetitive trauma than does PTSD" - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Complex_po ... s_disorder

CPTSD has been in use where I am for many years in relation to people who have been bullied, sexually abused in childhood, domestically abused and other chronic exposures.

Wow, that describes me completely.

Yes, I have that kind of PTSD. It comes and goes but the smallest things can set symptoms off sometimes.
Sometimes I get some significant panic attacks as a result. Because of extensive therapy, I've developed some self talk to get me through them. Also self-understanding, like knowing i'm on the spectrum and knowing what things can set me off, as well.

I have been dx with ptsd. I'm going to guess that people with AS would be at higher risk for ptsd than the general population.

I want to mention that, along with domestic abuse, divorce can bring on PTSD & CPTSD.

Oh, I like how there's a term for this. I'm sure I had a touch of this.

This exactly sums up what I'm experiencing. I have been in no doubt for a long time I have PTSD. But when going to a doctor to seek a diagnosis/help for it I couldn't get it, I was told it was debatable. Maybe that's because it is in fact CPTSD I have - no debate - and it's a so far unrecognised condition in the DSM.