The number and type of ACEs a person experiences can depend on the person’s culture, race, ethnicity, religion, and other identifying factors. Having experienced one or more of these situations does not necessarily mean a person will develop complex PTSD, but the more ACEs a person has experienced, the more likely they may be to develop it. One in 6 said they had experienced four or more ACEs. states report having experienced at least one ACE in their childhoods. growing up in an unsafe or crime-heavy environmentĪbout 61% of adults surveyed in 25 U.S.childhood exposure to violence, abuse, or neglect.Traumatic childhood experiences, also known as adverse childhood experiences (ACEs), can include: Since complex trauma is prolonged, it can often begin in early childhood. Other examples of trauma that can cause complex PTSD include:įor example, in a 2021 study of refugees and asylum seekers, 19.4% of the participants fit the diagnostic criteria for PTSD, and 49.5% fit the criteria for complex PTSD. Often, people with complex PTSD have experienced prolonged trauma such as ongoing physical, emotional, or sexual abuse. People with the condition may also experience symptoms other than the above. Symptoms of complex PTSD can vary, and they may change over time. Preoccupation with an abuser: It is not uncommon to fixate on the abuser, the relationship with the abuser, or getting revenge for the abuse.Detachment from the trauma: Some survivors report complete amnesia of the trauma.A person with either condition may also tend to develop unhealthy relationships if they are what the person has known in the past. Relationship issues: Relationships may suffer due to difficulties trusting and interacting, and because of a negative self-view.They may experience intense anger or sadness or have thoughts of suicide. Emotional regulation difficulties: These conditions can cause people to lose control over their emotions.Changes in beliefs and worldview: People with either condition may hold a negative view of the world and the people in it or lose faith in previously held beliefs.They often consider themselves to be different from other people. A negative self-view: Complex PTSD can cause a person to view themselves negatively and feel helpless, guilty, or ashamed.People with PTSD or complex PTSD may also experience: the belief that the world is a dangerous place.hyperarousal, which means being in a continual state of high alert.dizziness or nausea when remembering the trauma.avoiding situations that remind a person of the trauma.One 2016 study that included more than 1,700 participating mental health professionals from 76 countries showed that clinicians could differentiate between the two diagnoses.Ī person with complex PTSD may experience symptoms in addition to those that characterize PTSD.Ĭommon symptoms of PTSD and complex PTSD include: At least 29 studies from more than 15 countries have consistently shown the differences in symptoms between traditional PTSD and its complex variation. Research has also supported the validity of a separate diagnosis of complex PTSD. Some mental health professionals are beginning to distinguish between the two conditions, despite the lack of guidance from the DSM-5. ICD-11 identifies complex PTSD as a separate condition, though the DSM-5 currently does not. The symptoms of complex PTSD can be similar but more enduring and extreme than those of PTSD. It is generally related to a single traumatic event.Ĭomplex PTSD, on the other hand, is related to a series of traumatic events over time or one prolonged event. Typical PTSD can arise after a traumatic episode, such as a car collision, an earthquake, or a sexual assault. Affected areas may include the amygdala, the hippocampus, and the prefrontal cortex. Symptoms may result from changes in regions of the brain that deal with emotion, memory, and reasoning. Traditional PTSD will affect nearly 7% of people in the United States at some point in their lives.
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