[unlockingsanity]

I've read here, and other places online, that people claim they have been diagnosed with CPSTD (Complex Post Traumatic Stress Disorder), even though it is not an official diagnosis in the DSM.

How are people getting this diagnosis if it's not even technically a diagnosis?

What does this mean in regards to the doctor/therapist that is giving an unrecognized diagnosis?

What does this mean for treatment when it comes to therapy? How can you treat a disorder that is not recognized?

[Leah123]

Many professionals and laypersons dealing with PTSD were under the impression for quite a while that c-PTSD would be incorporated into the DSM when it was updated in May, and discouraged/upset/surprised when it was not. In the meantime, though, since its inception, it gained a foothold and while it was never an official diagnosis here, some people still found it useful as an unofficial diagnosis.

Some would say you can treat anything and call it anything, that a consensus on diagnoses is irrelevant: if I come in with a splinter, we could call it a sufflebuck and still, the treatment would be the same, you treat based on how the client presents, not a label. Some take a fairly similar approach with psychological symptoms in some cases- the pro and the client will just decide on a course of treatment based on the individual's collection of issues (no one ever fits a diagnosis 100% perfectly anyhow) and appropriate methodologies. A lot of practitioners already draw from several types of therapy for treatment anyway, even with PTSD there's no one-sized-fits all authorized, official treatment, though there are frontrunners.

Psychology is increasingly research oriented, but certainly not a perfect science at this point anyway, diagnoses and treatments are rapidly evolving.

In terms of doctors giving unrecognized diagnoses, well, for insurance purposes, they would just use accepted ones, like PTSD.

Still, some people take comfort and find a better fit with the PTSD subtypes that are now recognized, as do I, PTSD w/dissociation subtype for example.

[archipelago]

It is not "unrecognized" in the sense that it's made up. It's just not in the DSM now. Neither is Asberger's but does that mean that people who had that diagnosis previously do not have it now? What is in or out of the DSM is as much a political thing as medical.

There is a whole literature that finds the term useful. It started with Judith Herman but others have taken up who specialize in trauma. It makes sense to me that different types of traumatic experiences would have different types of names. If is it useful to have complex added to the PTSD, meaning that it is not contained in one event, than that makes perfect sense. Some people have prolonged or multiple traumatic histories so specifying that as distinct from a single episode of trauma actually seems really important to treatment and understanding.

As for other labels, things like SAD (Seasonal Affective Disorder) are no longer in the DSM but that doesn't stop people from referring to it as SAD still, just like Asbergers. The field is in flux and these things change. They were at one point wanting to change the name of Borderline Personality Disorder to Emotional Disregulation Disorder which makes more sense in lots of ways. These things will continue to change and who knows sometime the DSM may include a "complex" specifier for PTSD.

People in the field just can't agree on anything. I can see why, but yes, it can be frustrating. One person can see 3 different psychiatrists and get 3 different diagnoses. I think that is one reason why the field is just emerging from the Stone Ages when it comes to treatment. How can there be any research validity or reliability if patients are not categorized consistently?

Even though those that make the DSM decisions do not classify it as a diagnosis, there are numerous books written about C-PTSD, including evidence-based treatments. It's more broad than other diagnoses, so it can be more useful for that reason alone. People do not fit in these narrow DSM behavioral categories-everyone expresses mental distress and how they relate to themselves and the world (personality) differently through behaviors (ie, internalizing vs externalizing). DSM is a descriptive diagnostic manual, while psycho/analytic/dynamic practitioners focus more on structure/personality (the whole person), less on behavioral symptoms.

[deleted]

As others said, C-PTSD diagnosis is certainly used by many in the MH field. Psych Central even has it listed as below. Repeated childhood trauma has far-reaching, life-long consequences, and it's about time it's recognized for what it is and what it does.

Complex PTSD (sometimes called “Disorder of Extreme Stress”) is found among individuals who have been exposed to prolonged traumatic circumstances, especially during childhood, such as childhood sexual abuse. These individuals often are diagnosed with borderline or antisocial personality disorder or dissociative disorders. They exhibit behavioral difficulties (such as impulsivity, aggression, sexual acting out, eating disorders, alcohol or drug abuse, and self-destructive actions), extreme emotional difficulties (such as intense rage, depression, or panic) and mental difficulties (such as fragmented thoughts, dissociation, and amnesia). The treatment of such patients often takes much longer, may progress at a much slower rate, and requires a sensitive and highly structured treatment program delivered by a team of trauma specialists.

Types of PTSD | Psych Central

[stopdog]

It is not a real science. They mostly do what they want and label people the way they want. The dsm is not absolute or infallible.

Originally Posted by stopdog

It is not a real science.

Last reviewed: By John M. Grohol, Psy.D. on 30 Jan 2013
Published on PsychCentral.com. All rights reserved.

Are you sure about that Stopdog? Psych Central's PTSD page that I linked above states it was "scientifically reviewed".

[Lauliza]

It's not an exact science but it is a science. I know the DSM is not absolute, but a responsible practitioner uses it carefully. For an accurate diagnosis, there are a lot of diagnostic criteria which need to be met.

[stopdog]

I disagree that psychotherapy is a real science. But I do agree they can wreak a lot of harm by misuse/over use of the dsm.

[stopdog]

Originally Posted by Autumn Skies

Last reviewed: By John M. Grohol, Psy.D. on 30 Jan 2013
Published on PsychCentral.com. All rights reserved.

Are you sure about that Stopdog? Psych Central's PTSD page that I linked above states it was "scientifically reviewed".

Ha. That is a real comfort to know.
Doesn't make it true, in my opinion.

[elliemay]

Calling something out as not a real science isn't that big of a deal. It's not as damning as you think.

Even if it's not a real science, neither is science. How many different diets have been proclaimed as healthy (or not) when - well, not so much. Etc....

The so called rigors of science do not hold up to their own rigor either.

Strip away most things in science and medicine and it comes down to whether or not a treatment works for you, for whatever reason.

Yes, some may have better odds than others, but, in the end it does or it doesn't.

[elliemay]

Originally Posted by unlockingsanity

I've read here, and other places online, that people claim they have been diagnosed with CPSTD (Complex Post Traumatic Stress Disorder), even though it is not an official diagnosis in the DSM.

How are people getting this diagnosis if it's not even technically a diagnosis?

What does this mean in regards to the doctor/therapist that is giving an unrecognized diagnosis?

What does this mean for treatment when it comes to therapy? How can you treat a disorder that is not recognized?

Well, I think those are wonderful questions for you to answer if or when you should happen to be diagnosed with CPSTD.

[The_little_didgee]

Originally Posted by archipelago

It is not "unrecognized" in the sense that it's made up. It's just not in the DSM now. Neither is Asberger's but does that mean that people who had that diagnosis previously do not have it now?

Asperger's Disorder is in the DSM-IV TR. It is also in the DSM V, but is called Autism Spectrum Disorder.

Some mental health professionals consider c-PTSD to be another name for Borderline Personality Disorder. They just use that name because it is less stigmatizing.

[MoxieDoxie]

CPTSD= PTSD+personality disorder/dissociative disorder.

[Lauliza]

Originally Posted by stopdog

I disagree that psychotherapy is a real science. But I do agree they can wreak a lot of harm by misuse/over use of the dsm.

I think psychiatry is a real science...not so sure about psychotherapy though. And yes, if you're not careful you can diagnose yourself and just about anyone else with any number of disorders listed in the DSM.

Originally Posted by unlockingsanity

I've read here, and other places online, that people claim they have been diagnosed with CPSTD (Complex Post Traumatic Stress Disorder), even though it is not an official diagnosis in the DSM.

How are people getting this diagnosis if it's not even technically a diagnosis?

What does this mean in regards to the doctor/therapist that is giving an unrecognized diagnosis?

What does this mean for treatment when it comes to therapy? How can you treat a disorder that is not recognized?

I don't know. But tell me, how does that make you feel? ;-)