Compassion-Focused Therapy for the Treatment of ICD-11–Defined Complex Posttraumatic Stress Disorder
Abstract
The most effective treatments for ICD-11–defined complex posttraumatic stress disorder (CPTSD) remain unknown. Further research is needed to determine whether such treatments for CPTSD are the same as or different from—or require integration with—existing gold standard treatments for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Individuals with CPTSD experience the hallmark symptoms of PTSD (i.e., reexperiencing symptoms, avoidance symptoms, and the pervasive sense of perceived threat) and pervasive disturbances in self-organization, including affective dysregulation, negative self-concept, and difficulties with interpersonal relationships. Compassion-focused therapy (CFT) is a transdiagnostic approach that was originally developed to treat shame and self-criticism. CFT helps individuals learn how to regulate their emotions, shift their emotional response style from shaming and self-critical to wise and understanding, and engage in more compassionate and rewarding patterns of relating to self and others. This article describes CFT’s possible application in the treatment of CPTSD and delineates areas for future research.
Access content
To read the fulltext, please use one of the options below to sign in or purchase access.- Personal login
- Institutional Login
- Sign in via OpenAthens
- Register for access
-
Please login/register if you wish to pair your device and check access availability.
Not a subscriber?
PsychiatryOnline subscription options offer access to the DSM-5 library, books, journals, CME, and patient resources. This all-in-one virtual library provides psychiatrists and mental health professionals with key resources for diagnosis, treatment, research, and professional development.
Need more help? PsychiatryOnline Customer Service may be reached by emailing [email protected] or by calling 800-368-5777 (in the U.S.) or 703-907-7322 (outside the U.S.).