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Related Concept Videos

Post-traumatic Stress Disorder01:27

Post-traumatic Stress Disorder

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, are a...
Psychosexual Stages of Personality: Genital01:23

Psychosexual Stages of Personality: Genital

The genital stage is the final phase of Sigmund Freud's theory of psychosexual development, beginning at puberty, around age 12. During this stage, sexual energy shifts from self-focused interests to external individuals, marking the development of mature adult sexuality. Freud saw this phase as a time of sexual reawakening, with desires directed toward others outside the family. A healthy transition into this stage, according to Freud, signifies the emergence of two key aspects of adult...
Psychosexual Stages of Personality: Phallic01:12

Psychosexual Stages of Personality: Phallic

The third stage of psychosexual development proposed by Freud is the phallic stage, occurring between the ages of 3 and 6. During this period, children become aware of their bodies and the differences between males and females. The erogenous zone in this stage is the genitals, and conflicts arise as children develop desires toward the opposite-sex parent. Boys experience the Oedipus complex, where they desire their mother and view their father as a rival. This leads to castration anxiety, the...
Psychosexual Theory of Development01:14

Psychosexual Theory of Development

Sigmund Freud's psychosexual theory of development suggests that early childhood experiences significantly shape personality and behavior. Freud proposed that development is discontinuous, occurring in five distinct stages, each defined by a focus on different erogenous zones. He believed that failure to resolve the conflicts specific to each stage successfully could result in fixation, potentially influencing behavior as adults.
The Five Stages of Psychosexual Development
Freud's psychosexual...
Sex Linked Disorders01:43

Sex Linked Disorders

Like autosomes, sex chromosomes contain a variety of genes necessary for normal body function. When a mutation in one of these genes results in biological deficits, the disorder is considered sex-linked.
Psychosexual Stages of Personality: Anal01:26

Psychosexual Stages of Personality: Anal

Sigmund Freud's theory of psychosexual development describes the anal stage as occurring between 18 months and three years of age. During this period, children derive pleasure from controlling and releasing their bowel movements. However, they quickly learn that societal expectations impose restrictions on when and where this can happen. This stage marks a critical point where children begin to develop a sense of control and mastery over their bodily functions, as well as their broader...

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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 30, 2026

Use of a Psychophysiological Script-driven Imagery Experiment to Study Trauma-related Dissociation in Borderline Personality Disorder
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Sexual function in women with complex PTSD: a comparative study.

Rodrigo Ramirez-Rodriguez1, Ángel Alberto Puig-Lagunes2, Rafael Fernández-Demeneghi3

  • 1Instituto Politécnico Nacional, Ciudad de Mexico, Mexico.

Frontiers in Psychiatry
|June 29, 2026
PubMed
Summary

Complex posttraumatic stress disorder (CPTSD) significantly impacts women's sexual function, leading to poorer overall sexual health. This finding highlights the importance of addressing CPTSD in sexual health assessments.

Keywords:
MexicoPTSDcomplex ptsdsexual functionwomen

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Area of Science:

  • Psychology
  • Women's Health
  • Trauma Studies

Background:

  • Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is linked to sexual dysfunction in women.
  • The specific impact of complex PTSD (CPTSD) on female sexual functioning remains less understood.
  • This study investigated the relationship between CPTSD, PTSD, and sexual function in a female university student population.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To compare sexual function across women with CPTSD, PTSD, and trauma-exposed controls.
  • To determine if CPTSD severity is associated with lower overall sexual function and increased sexual pain.
  • To examine whether CPTSD predicts sexual function independently of PTSD severity and age.

Main Methods:

  • A cross-sectional study involving 386 Mexican female university students (aged 18-55).
  • Participants completed validated questionnaires: Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI), International Trauma Questionnaire (ITQ), and Adverse Childhood Experiences Questionnaire (ACE-IQ).
  • Statistical analyses included ANOVA for group comparisons and multivariable linear regressions to assess predictive relationships.

Main Results:

  • Women with CPTSD reported significantly lower overall sexual function compared to trauma-exposed controls.
  • A significant difference was found in the pain domain, with CPTSD group reporting greater sexual pain.
  • CPTSD severity was a significant independent predictor of lower overall sexual function, even after controlling for PTSD severity and age.

Conclusions:

  • CPTSD severity is strongly associated with diminished overall sexual function in women, irrespective of PTSD severity or age.
  • While initial findings suggested a link between CPTSD and sexual pain, this association was not significant after adjusting for age.
  • These findings underscore the need to consider CPTSD in the evaluation and treatment of sexual dysfunction in women.