Criteria For Complex PTSD
Criteria For Complex Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder
From: Chapter 6: Diagnosing and Identifying the Need for Trauma Treatment, in First stage trauma treatment: A guide for mental health professionals working with women (© CAMH 2003)
The diagnostic construct of complex PTSD or DESNOS is not currently recognized in the DSM-IV as a freestanding diagnosis, but is instead presented as associated features of PTSD. Complex PTSD is expected to be included in the next edition of the diagnostic guidebook, the DSM-V. However, it is unclear if it will be given the name complex PTSD or DESNOS. Currently, both terms are referred to interchangeably in the clinical literature in this area.
Simple post-traumatic stress consists of changes to three areas of functioning, while complex post-traumatic stress consists of changes to six domains of functioning. The diagnostic criteria for determining the presence of complex post-traumatic stress entails that a number of specific changes (outlined below) are present in each of the six domains of functioning.
Diagnostic criteria for complex post-traumatic stress responses |
(I) Alteration in Regulation of Affect and Impulses (A and one of B to F required)
(II) Alterations in Attention or Consciousness
(III) Alterations in Self-Perception
(IV) Alterations in Relations with Others
(V) Somatization
(VI) Alterations in Systems of Meaning
Luxenberg, Spinazzola, van der Kolk. Reprinted with permission from The Hatherleigh Company, Ltd., New York.www.hatherleigh.com, 1-800-367-2550. © 2001 |
This article has been copied from http://knowledgex.camh.net/amhspecialists/specialized_treatment/trauma_treatment/first_stage_trauma/FirstStageTT_ch6/Pages/criteria_complex_ptsd.aspx to provide people with information on complex PTSD diagnostic criteria. For more information please check out the link above and read their article on how that diagnosis is made.