Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Concept Videos

Post-traumatic Stress Disorder01:27

Post-traumatic Stress Disorder

100
Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a psychiatric condition that arises following exposure to traumatic events such as natural disasters, forced displacement, or severe accidents. It significantly impairs individuals' ability to cope with daily activities and disrupts their emotional and psychological equilibrium.
Symptoms and Behavioral Manifestations
A spectrum of distressing symptoms characterizes PTSD. Recurrent flashbacks, where individuals involuntarily relive traumatic events,...
100
Traumatic Memory01:20

Traumatic Memory

165
Emotionally traumatic events often lead to memories that are exceptionally vivid and enduring, sometimes persisting with remarkable clarity throughout an individual's life. A classic example of this phenomenon is a person who survives a car accident. Even years later, they may recall every detail of the event with startling accuracy — the screeching of the tires, the jarring impact, and the acrid smell of burning rubber. Such vividness contrasts sharply with how an individual...
165
Dissociative Identity Disorder01:30

Dissociative Identity Disorder

194
Dissociative Identity Disorder (DID), previously termed multiple personality disorder, is a complex psychological condition characterized by the presence of two or more distinct identities or personality states. Each identity exhibits unique patterns of behavior, voice, and mannerisms and may possess separate memories and emotional responses. The alternating control between identities can result in memory gaps and challenges in recalling daily activities, often exacerbating the individual's...
194
Dissociative Disorders01:27

Dissociative Disorders

179
Dissociative disorders represent complex psychological conditions characterized by disruptions in consciousness, memory, identity, or perception. These disruptions cause individuals to experience a disconnection from their thoughts, emotions, and memories. The phenomenon is not merely an occasional lapse in attention but a profound alteration in mental functioning that can severely impact daily life.
Dissociative Fugue
A hallmark feature of dissociative disorders is the dissociative fugue...
179
Anxiety: Overview01:18

Anxiety: Overview

339
Anxiety is a common mental disorder featuring excessive worry, fear, and apprehension, significantly affecting daily life. People with anxiety disorders experience persistent and intense anxiety, interrupting their everyday functioning.
Individuals with anxiety often experience a range of physical and emotional symptoms, including sweating, trembling, tachycardia, and disturbances in sleep patterns. These symptoms vary in intensity and frequency but are generally disruptive and distressing.
339
Introduction to Stress and Lifestyle01:27

Introduction to Stress and Lifestyle

166
Stress is a multifaceted response to events perceived as challenging or threatening, highlighting physical, emotional, cognitive, and behavioral reactions. Physically, stress can lead to fatigue, sleep disruptions, and various health issues such as frequent colds, chest pains, and nausea. Emotionally, it can manifest as anxiety, depression, irritability, and anger triggered by both minor and major life events. Cognitively, it may result in difficulty in concentration, memory, and...
166

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by
Same author

'Never let your enemy see you broken': cultural trauma script elements in the Republic of Georgia - an international consortium study.

European journal of psychotraumatology·2026
Same author

[Social Death and Suicidal Ideation among Victims of 'Zersetzung' in the GDR].

Psychiatrische Praxis·2026
Same author

Mental Health Professionals' Perceptions of Benefits and Disadvantages of Telehealth: International Mixed Methods Study.

Journal of medical Internet research·2026
Same author

[Cultures of Remembrance in Psychology: A Survey as a First Empirical Step].

Psychotherapie, Psychosomatik, medizinische Psychologie·2026
Same author

COVID-19 vaccine attitudes among mental health professionals in the WHO's global clinical practice network.

PLOS mental health·2026
Same author

Cultural Scripts of Trauma in East Africa Predicted by Cultural and Intrapersonal Factors: Path Analysis of a New Psychopathological Concept.

Clinical psychology & psychotherapy·2026
Same journal

Assisted dying and the silencing of medicine's next generation.

Lancet (London, England)·2026
Same journal

Linguistic pragmatism: a woman with progressive abdominal pain in Thailand.

Lancet (London, England)·2026
Same journal

Medical compartmentalisation: a patient with chromosome 22q11.2 deletion syndrome in Japan.

Lancet (London, England)·2026
Same journal

[<sup>177</sup>Lu]Lu-edotreotide versus everolimus for gastroenteropancreatic neuroendocrine tumours (COMPETE): a phase 3, multicentre, randomised, open-label, superiority trial.

Lancet (London, England)·2026
Same journal

Research priorities for characterising Bundibugyo virus.

Lancet (London, England)·2026
Same journal

Rethinking treatment sequence in advanced gastroenteropancreatic neuroendocrine tumours.

Lancet (London, England)·2026
See all related articles

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Sep 6, 2025

Polar Histogram Visualization of Acute Stress Disorder Scale Scores for Comprehensive Clinical Assessment
08:25

Polar Histogram Visualization of Acute Stress Disorder Scale Scores for Comprehensive Clinical Assessment

Published on: December 6, 2024

514

Complex post-traumatic stress disorder.

Andreas Maercker1, Marylene Cloitre2, Rahel Bachem1

  • 1Division of Psychopathology and Clinical Intervention, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland.

Lancet (London, England)
|July 5, 2022
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Complex post-traumatic stress disorder (complex PTSD) is a severe mental health condition characterized by emotional dysregulation and identity disturbances. Early intervention with multicomponent therapies focusing on safety and self-regulation is recommended for effective treatment.

More Related Videos

Developing Neuroimaging Phenotypes of the Default Mode Network in PTSD: Integrating the Resting State, Working Memory, and Structural Connectivity
10:43

Developing Neuroimaging Phenotypes of the Default Mode Network in PTSD: Integrating the Resting State, Working Memory, and Structural Connectivity

Published on: July 1, 2014

15.3K
Simultaneous Application of Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation during Virtual Reality Exposure
08:20

Simultaneous Application of Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation during Virtual Reality Exposure

Published on: January 18, 2021

4.1K

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Sep 6, 2025

Polar Histogram Visualization of Acute Stress Disorder Scale Scores for Comprehensive Clinical Assessment
08:25

Polar Histogram Visualization of Acute Stress Disorder Scale Scores for Comprehensive Clinical Assessment

Published on: December 6, 2024

514
Developing Neuroimaging Phenotypes of the Default Mode Network in PTSD: Integrating the Resting State, Working Memory, and Structural Connectivity
10:43

Developing Neuroimaging Phenotypes of the Default Mode Network in PTSD: Integrating the Resting State, Working Memory, and Structural Connectivity

Published on: July 1, 2014

15.3K
Simultaneous Application of Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation during Virtual Reality Exposure
08:20

Simultaneous Application of Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation during Virtual Reality Exposure

Published on: January 18, 2021

4.1K

Area of Science:

  • Psychiatry
  • Clinical Psychology
  • Trauma Studies

Background:

  • Complex post-traumatic stress disorder (complex PTSD) is a severe mental disorder linked to prolonged or repeated trauma.
  • It presents with core PTSD symptoms plus chronic disturbances in emotion regulation, identity, and relationships.
  • Complex PTSD is recognized as a distinct diagnosis in the ICD-11.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review diagnostic criteria and assessment methods for complex PTSD.
  • To differentiate complex PTSD from PTSD and borderline personality disorder.
  • To outline recommended treatment approaches for complex PTSD in adults and youth.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review of diagnostic criteria, assessment tools, and treatment studies.
  • Analysis of prevalence data and differentiation from related disorders.
  • Synthesis of recommendations for multicomponent therapies.

Main Results:

  • Complex PTSD is characterized by three symptom clusters and pervasive disturbances in self-organization.
  • Population prevalence ranges from 1-8%, with higher rates in clinical settings.
  • Multicomponent therapies, starting with safety and psychoeducation, are recommended.

Conclusions:

  • Effective management of complex PTSD requires a phased approach prioritizing safety, psychoeducation, and patient-provider collaboration.
  • Treatment should integrate self-regulatory strategies and trauma-focused interventions.
  • Continued research and clinical attention are vital for this complex condition.