Assessment and treatment of complex PTSD

While most research on PTSD has studied subjects exposed to single trauma, in clinical practice the vast majority of treatment seeking patients have histories of multiple traumas, usually interpersonal, abuse. This gives rise to complex clinical pictures, of which PTSD is just one dimension. The Trauma Center in Boston is a large, multidisciplinary, developmentally focused Clinic which specializes in the treatment of traumatized children and adults. Our clinic uses a developmentally based assessment tool which helps in the staging of appropriate treatment interventions. Special emphasis is placed on providing patients with skills to deal with complex trauma-based symptoms, such as dissociation, by teaching stablization with DBT techniques, psychoeducational groups, resource installation, SIT, and body-oriented methods, in which patients are taught skills to increase their internal locus of control. We will review the rationale for various psychopharmacological interventions and the role of groups to enhance the capacity for mutual relationships. All treatment occurs on the foundation of continuity of care with one individual therapist who follows the patient’s progress,explores life issues, helps deal with re-enactment behaviors, and does trauma-specific treatment, such as EMDR or CBT for alleviation of trauma-specific symptoms. This conference will explore these issues in depth and discuss in detail the staging and applications of various treatment techniques in clinical practice.

Conference

English

Bessel A. van der Kolk

van der Kolk, B. A. (1999, November). Assessment and treatment of complex PTSD. Presentation at the International Society for Traumatic Stress Studies 15th Annual Meeting, Miami, FL