| Complex Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (CPTSD) is a clinical variant of Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). In contrast to other types of traumatic disorders this syndrome is found in survivors of prolonged and repeated interpersonal trauma. In addition to the triad of symptoms typically found in PTSD victims (e.g., intrusive reexperiencing, hyperarousal, psychic numbing and avoidance) the sequelae of CPTSD also include dissociation, somatization, affect dysregulation, pathological changes in relationship, pathological changes in identity, and repetition of harm following prolonged victimization.;Diagnosis, assessment, and treatment of posttraumatic stress disorders are covered generally and more specifically as they relate to the special challenges that the clinician/evaluator will encounter when working with victims of chronic and severe interpersonal trauma. Conclusively, the treatment of CPTSD must be multimodal and grounded in intertheoretical conceptions of trauma, and add to its existing treatment repertoire mind-body based treatments. Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction, a psychoeducational, patient-centered, mind-body behavioral medicine intervention, is identified as one such program. |
