No therapy for your looks, of course, but therapy doesn’t even fix CPTSD 
pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
The article "Neglect of the Complex: Why Psychotherapy for Post-Traumatic Clinical Presentations Is Often Ineffective" by Frank M. Corrigan and Alastair M. Hull, published in the BJPsych Bulletin in April 2015, critically examines the limitations of current psychotherapeutic approaches in treating complex post-traumatic conditions. The authors argue that traditional evidence-based treatments, such as cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) and eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR), are often inadequate for patients with complex presentations characterized by multiple symptoms and extensive comorbidities.
Complex PTSD and Its Challenges
Complex post-traumatic stress disorder (C-PTSD) differs from standard PTSD in its multifaceted nature, often resulting from prolonged or repeated exposure to trauma, particularly during early developmental stages. This complexity leads to difficulties in affective regulation, alterations in attention and consciousness (including amnesia and dissociation), somatization, and chronic changes in self-perception. The authors highlight that these multifaceted presentations are often underrepresented in research studies, leading to a lack of evidence supporting the efficacy of standard psychotherapeutic interventions for such complex cases.
Limitations of Standard Psychotherapeutic Approaches
The article critiques the application of treatments validated for non-complex PTSD to complex cases, suggesting that this approach is insufficient. The authors emphasize that the simplicity of these treatments does not address the intricate nature of complex PTSD, which often involves a combination of symptoms and comorbidities that standard protocols fail to encompass. This oversight results in patients with severe trauma histories, especially those traumatized early in life, not receiving rigorously evaluated psychotherapies tailored to their complex needs.
Implications for Health Services
The authors call for a reevaluation of treatment protocols to ensure that individuals with complex post-traumatic conditions receive appropriate and effective care. They advocate for the development and implementation of psychotherapies specifically designed to address the multifaceted nature of complex PTSD, thereby improving outcomes for this patient population.
Conclusion
Corrigan and Hull's article underscores the critical need for specialized psychotherapeutic interventions for complex post-traumatic conditions. By highlighting the inadequacies of current evidence-based treatments for complex PTSD, the authors advocate for a more nuanced and comprehensive approach to psychotherapy that considers the intricate nature of these disorders. This perspective is essential for advancing effective treatment strategies and improving the quality of care for individuals affected by complex trauma.
Neglect of the complex: why psychotherapy for post-traumatic clinical presentations is often ineffective - PMC
Evidence of efficacy in studies of post-traumatic conditions is largely derived from studies in which variables are kept to a minimum. Extrapolation of treatments from uncomplicated disorders to complex conditions may therefore be called ...
pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
The article "Neglect of the Complex: Why Psychotherapy for Post-Traumatic Clinical Presentations Is Often Ineffective" by Frank M. Corrigan and Alastair M. Hull, published in the BJPsych Bulletin in April 2015, critically examines the limitations of current psychotherapeutic approaches in treating complex post-traumatic conditions. The authors argue that traditional evidence-based treatments, such as cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) and eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR), are often inadequate for patients with complex presentations characterized by multiple symptoms and extensive comorbidities.
Complex PTSD and Its Challenges
Complex post-traumatic stress disorder (C-PTSD) differs from standard PTSD in its multifaceted nature, often resulting from prolonged or repeated exposure to trauma, particularly during early developmental stages. This complexity leads to difficulties in affective regulation, alterations in attention and consciousness (including amnesia and dissociation), somatization, and chronic changes in self-perception. The authors highlight that these multifaceted presentations are often underrepresented in research studies, leading to a lack of evidence supporting the efficacy of standard psychotherapeutic interventions for such complex cases.
Limitations of Standard Psychotherapeutic Approaches
The article critiques the application of treatments validated for non-complex PTSD to complex cases, suggesting that this approach is insufficient. The authors emphasize that the simplicity of these treatments does not address the intricate nature of complex PTSD, which often involves a combination of symptoms and comorbidities that standard protocols fail to encompass. This oversight results in patients with severe trauma histories, especially those traumatized early in life, not receiving rigorously evaluated psychotherapies tailored to their complex needs.
Implications for Health Services
The authors call for a reevaluation of treatment protocols to ensure that individuals with complex post-traumatic conditions receive appropriate and effective care. They advocate for the development and implementation of psychotherapies specifically designed to address the multifaceted nature of complex PTSD, thereby improving outcomes for this patient population.
Conclusion
Corrigan and Hull's article underscores the critical need for specialized psychotherapeutic interventions for complex post-traumatic conditions. By highlighting the inadequacies of current evidence-based treatments for complex PTSD, the authors advocate for a more nuanced and comprehensive approach to psychotherapy that considers the intricate nature of these disorders. This perspective is essential for advancing effective treatment strategies and improving the quality of care for individuals affected by complex trauma.
