Psychological Therapy for Complex Post-traumatic Stress Disorder
Research type
Research Study
Full title
What are patient views on psychological therapy for the new diagnosis of Complex Post-traumatic Stress Disorder: a participatory study with service users
IRAS ID
230818
Contact name
Catherine Matheson
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
University of Exeter
Duration of Study in the UK
2 years, 0 months, 0 days
Research summary
The research aim is to explore the question: What are patient views on psychological therapy for the new diagnosis of Complex Post-traumatic Stress Disorder, CPTSD? The research will be based on interviews by service user researchers with 40 former patients in the London borough of Lewisham. This is a crucial time to answer this question because in 2018, a new diagnosis of Complex PTSD is set to be approved by the World Health Organization. It includes the symptoms of PTSD itself, plus three extra problem areas: finding it hard to control emotions, feeling bad about yourself, and difficulties relating to other people.
The new diagnosis of CPTSD may apply to people who have experienced extreme traumatic events, such as torture, civil war, organized violence, domestic violence and childhood abuse, and then go on to suffer from the symptoms of PTSD and CPTSD. Psychotherapists and psychologists are currently discussing what might work best with such symptoms.
Some evidence suggests that it is better to offer patients with CPTSD a three-phase treatment, beginning with ensuring safety & stabilising symptoms, before going on to trauma-focussed therapy, and then working on relationships with others, including family and community. Other evidence suggests patients should be offered trauma-focussed therapy straight away; this involves re-living the trauma and coming to terms with it. We want to know what patients think. The interviews will be carried out by people who have used services themselves.
REC name
London - Westminster Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
17/LO/1391
Date of REC Opinion
12 Sep 2017
REC opinion
Favourable Opinion