Complex PTSD - A Contextual Approach to the Treatment of Complex Posttraumatic Stress Disorder: A Proposal for New Therapeutic Guidelines

Abstract

While experts and scientists agree on the first-line interventions for the treatment of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), there is still an ongoing debate about the adequate treatment approach for complex post-traumatic stress disorder (C-PTSD). Meanwhile, different approaches to the treatment of C-PTSD are used in daily clinical practice.
This paper aims to present a range of treatment options for C-PTSD in adults who have survived repeated exposure to severe violence and abuse, both in childhood and later in life. The developmental-contextual perspective of mental health forms the basis of this approach. The presented strategies are a combination of existing “evidence-based” approaches to the treatment of PTSD and personality disorders. In doing so, they take into account the personal development psychology of the patient, the current environment and the sources of the patient's resilience.
The presented treatment model is based on many years of clinical practice and may be a promising approach to the treatment of C-PTSD. However, it is still necessary to scientifically examine its acceptability and effectiveness.