Individuals who experience any form of trauma tend to have long-term emotional, physical, and psychological problems. There are two terminologies that most individuals find hard to distinguish: that is, PTSD Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder and CPTSD (Complex Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder).
Therefore, what is the difference between CPTSD vs PTSD, and how do we identify the difference? It is possible for one to suffer from either condition, which might have the same symptoms such as intrusive memories, avoidance, emotional disturbances, and increased awareness. Nevertheless, CPTSD might include emotional dysregulation, self-concept, and interpersonal challenges.
What Is CPTSD vs PTSD?
PTSD may result from an experience of a trauma or a traumatic event. Symptoms usually include re-experiences and avoidance, negative changes in thoughts and mood, and changes in arousal. (U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs PTSD)
CPTSD includes all components of PTSD and DSO according to ICD-11. Disturbances in self-organisation are manifested by substantial problems with emotional regulation, self-concept, and interpersonal relationships. Explore CPTSD vs PTSD through convenient telehealth services that connect you with professional mental health support from the comfort of your home.
The classification of disorders is also significant. While the DSM-5-TR, applied in the USA, does not include CPTSD as a distinct diagnosis, the ICD-11 does. (U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs PTSD)
Differences can be put in short terms:
- PTSD: Trauma causes symptoms associated with re-experiencing, avoidance, and negative changes in thoughts and mood.
- CPTSD: PTSD symptoms along with persistent problems with emotional regulation, identity or self-esteem, and relationships
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CPTSD vs PTSD Difference: What Sets Them Apart?
Common cptsd vs ptsd differences.
Feature |
PTSD |
CPTSD |
| Trauma symptoms | Yes | Yes |
| Intrusive memories or flashbacks | Common | Common |
| Avoidance | Common | Common |
| Hypervigilance | Common | Common |
| Emotional regulation difficulties | May occur | Core feature |
| Negative self-concept | May occur | Core feature |
| Relationship difficulties | May occur | Core feature |
| Separate ICD-11 diagnosis | Yes | Yes |
However, CPTSD is frequently associated with exposure to ongoing or recurrent interpersonal trauma, even though the ICD-11 does not mandate any trauma for the diagnosis. (U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs PTSD)
CPTSD vs PTSD Symptoms
PTSD Symptoms
There are four main categories for symptoms of PTSD:
- Re-experiencing intrusive thoughts, dreams, flashbacks, or responses to things that remind one of trauma.
- Avoidance avoiding thoughts, emotions, people, places, or activities related to trauma.
- Negative alterations in thoughts and moods guilt, negative beliefs, emotional numbness, detachment, or a decrease in interests.
- Negative alterations in thoughts and moods guilt negative beliefs, emotional numbness, detachment, or a decrease in interests.
What Are the 17 Symptoms of Complex PTSD?
There are usually many people who search for “What are the 17 symptoms of complex PTSD?” but the fact remains that there is no clinically defined set of 17 symptoms of CPTSD. In online articles, researchers can divide those symptoms into smaller categories of symptoms within each area mentioned above, and that’s why it appears there are 17 of them.
The correct approach for a doctor is to follow clinical diagnostic criteria.
- Affect dysregulation – problems managing intense emotions.
- Negative self-concept – persistent feeling of worthlessness, guilt, or failure.
- Relationship disturbances – persistent difficulties in relationships with other people. (US Dept. of Veterans Affairs)
CPTSD vs PTSD Examples
PTSD example
A person is going through nightmares and intrusive memories following a major car accident. They avoid driving, being very vigilant about traffic, and getting highly distressed with any crash sound. Verywell Mind offers accessible mental health information and resources to help you better understand topics such as CPTSD, PTSD, symptoms, and treatment.
CPTSD example
A person is experiencing interpersonal trauma that lasts for an extended period. In addition to nightmares, avoidance, and feelings of insecurity, they find it hard to manage emotions, feel unworthy of existence, and are unable to form attachments.
Trauma vs PTSD vs CPTSD
The distinction between trauma, PTSD, and CPTSD should be known. Trauma is a psychological reaction to experience that is very distressing or threatening. Having trauma does not necessarily imply that an individual has PTSD or CPTSD.
PTSD is a mental illness that involves the occurrence of specific persistent symptoms associated with trauma causing considerable distress and impairment. CPTSD consists of PTSD symptoms and persistent disturbances related to emotional dysregulation, self-perception, and relationships with others, according to ICD-11. (Veterans Affairs PTSD)
CPTSD vs PTSD Diagnostic Criteria
Understanding the differences between CPTSD and PTSD diagnosis criteria will reveal the importance of professional evaluation.
According to the DSM-5, PTSD involves trauma experience and symptoms coming from the necessary symptom clusters. The symptoms should last for more than one month, cause significant distress or impairment and should not be due to substances, medication management, or another medical condition. (U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs PTSD)
CPTSD involves PTSD criteria and disturbances in self-organisation involving emotional dysregulation, self-concept, and relationships. The World Health Organization intends the ICD-11 diagnostic criteria for qualified health professionals only. This is yet another reason why online symptom lists cannot substitute for professional diagnosis. (World Health Organization).
CPTSD vs PTSD Test: Can You Diagnose Yourself?
A search for “CPTSD vs PTSD test might bring up some tests available on the internet. The results can be useful to find out more about symptoms and what kind of problems one has; however, they cannot diagnose PTSD on their own.
There are also validated screening and assessment measures for PTSD. For example, PC-PTSD-5 is a quick screening test for identifying persons with possible PTSD and requiring additional assessment. A positive screening result does not mean that the person has PTSD. (U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs PTSD).
When the symptoms of trauma negatively impact work, relationships, sleep, or daily life, it could be helpful to consult with a mental health expert.
CPTSD vs Chronic PTSD
The difference between CPTSD and chronic PTSD may be misleading, as “chronic PTSD” refers to PTSD, which is prolonged in nature, whereas CPTSD refers to a particular diagnostic construct with disturbances of self-organisation added.
It is not merely two different names for the same disorder.
A person could have a longstanding history of PTSD without meeting the ICD-11 criteria for CPTSD. Similarly, a diagnosis of CPTSD entails the presence of PTSD symptoms along with other problems.
CPTSD vs PTSD: Can You Have Both?
In the ICD-11 framework, CPTSD vs PTSD: can you have both? In general, the answer is no since they are mutually exclusive disorders in a diagnostic framework. CPTSD involves all of the symptoms of PTSD in addition to disturbances in self-organisation. That is why the ICD-11 framework relies on either PTSD or CPTSD.
However, diagnostic practices may vary because the DSM-5-TR does not recognise CPTSD as a distinct disorder. (U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs PTSD)
CPTSD vs PTSDWhich Is Worse?
There is no useful clinical response to “CPTSD vs PTSD which is worse?”
Neither should be compared in terms of being “better” or “worse”. Both can have an important impact on a person’s quality of life and daily functioning. CPTSD could imply more problems, as it covers the issue of emotional dysregulation, self-concept disturbances, and relational issues, apart from PTSD. However, people vary in the severity of their symptoms.
CPTSD vs PTSD Treatment
CPTSD vs PTSD: Can you have both? There is no specific method of treatment when dealing with either of the two disorders, but rather it will depend on several factors such as symptoms experienced, past traumas experienced, objectives and personal well-being.
There is research on several methods of treating PTSD which include trauma therapies such as Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT) and Prolonged Exposure (PE), among others, that can be used by professional mental health practitioners. According to the National Center for PTSD, CPT and PE are both evidence-based methods of treatment of PTSD.
Treating PTSD vs PTSD: Why Individualized Care Matters
The keyword treating ptsd vs ptsd” seems to be an example of a frequent variation in search, but treatment should consider how the condition presents rather than the language used to describe the diagnosis.
A mental health practitioner can determine the symptoms, past trauma, other co-morbid conditions, and functional problems before suggesting treatment.
CPTSD Episode vs PTSD Episode
People might wonder about a “CPTSD episode versus PTSD episode”, but neither refers to an actual formal diagnosis.
PTSD symptoms can increase after triggers, resulting in flashbacks, nightmares, avoidance, hypervigilance, or emotional/physical reactivity. When discussing CPTSD, triggers may lead to emotional dysregulation, shame, negative self-beliefs, and interpersonal problems.
It does not necessarily mean that all the time when something emotionally upsetting happens, it is an episode of either PTSD or CPTSD.
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When Should You Seek Professional Help?
If you feel that you could use professional help because the symptoms of trauma persist for more than several weeks and start to interfere with your everyday life, it is a good idea to seek professional assistance. In this case, you might experience difficulties at work or at college, problems with maintaining relationships, recurrent nightmares, intrusive thoughts, persistent avoidance of situations or people that remind you of your traumatic experiences, or feeling constantly threatened or in danger.
Emotional difficulties, inability to control your emotions, alterations in self-perception, and inability to maintain healthy relationships might also indicate that you need extra help.
Final Thoughts
A comparison of CPTSD and PTSD will help you understand how two individuals, both with a history of trauma, can develop quite different symptoms. Symptoms of PTSD mostly include persistent symptoms of trauma, which include re-experiencing, avoidance, changes in thoughts and mood, and increased arousal. The ICD-11 classification of CPTSD includes all of the above symptoms, but it also features considerable problems with emotional regulation, self-perception, and relationships.
In case you relate to described symptoms, an online search will not be enough for you to find out everything that you need. A mental health specialist can help you understand your situation better and find the proper diagnosis and treatment for it.
You can use MAVA Behavioral Health to start your search for individual professional behavioral health services.
FAQs
1. Is CPTSD the same thing as PTSD?
No. As per the ICD-11 classification, CPTSD has all the elements of PTSD along with disorders of self-organisation that relate to the regulation of emotions, self-concept, and relationships. (U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs PTSD)
2. What is the major difference between CPTSD and PTSD?
The major difference lies in the added issues of self-organisation that come with CPTSD, especially with respect to emotional regulation, self-concept, and relationships.
3. Is PTSD capable of turning into CPTSD?
It is important to note that CPTSD is not just an advanced form of PTSD but an altogether separate diagnosis in the ICD-11 classification.
4. Is one worse than the other, CPTSD or PTSD?
Neither should automatically be thought of as the worse of the two disorders since both can be debilitating, and the symptoms as well as the level of their severity will vary from individual to individual.
5. Can CPTSD be treated?
Yes. It can not only treat trauma-related symptoms but also other areas such as emotional dysregulation, self-concept, relationship issues, and more.
