What is complex post-traumatic stress disorder?

Complex PTSD refers to the set of symptoms that commonly follow exposure to traumatic events that are long-lasting and generally involve some form of physical or emotional captivity, such as childhood sexual and/or physical abuse or domestic violence.

How do members experience complex post-traumatic stress disorder?

Top 5 symptoms reported by people with complex post-traumatic stress disorder*

*Reports may be affected by other conditions and/or medication side effects. We ask about general symptoms (anxious mood, depressed mood, fatigue, pain, and stress) regardless of condition.

Top treatments taken by people for complex post-traumatic stress disorder*

*Data from patients with complex post-traumatic stress disorder, who have ever reported treatments, ordered by their reporting frequency during the last 5 years.

Compare treatments taken by people with complex post-traumatic stress disorder*

Treatment
Perceived effectiveness
Side effects
Total evaluations
Tried for
Perceived effectiveness
for complex post-traumatic stress disorder (3 evaluations)
Side effects
exhaustion nightmares
Total evaluations
3
Tried for
complex post-traumatic stress disorder (4)
Treatment

(Prozac)
Perceived effectiveness
for complex post-traumatic stress disorder (1 evaluation)
Side effects
Total evaluations
1
Tried for
complex post-traumatic stress disorder (3)
Perceived effectiveness
No evaluations
Side effects
No evaluations
Total evaluations
0
Tried for
complex post-traumatic stress disorder (1)
Perceived effectiveness
for complex post-traumatic stress disorder (1 evaluation)
Side effects
Total evaluations
1
Tried for
complex post-traumatic stress disorder (1)
Treatment

(Paxil)
Perceived effectiveness
for complex post-traumatic stress disorder (1 evaluation)
Side effects
mania stomach cramps
Total evaluations
1
Tried for
complex post-traumatic stress disorder (1)

*Data from patients with complex post-traumatic stress disorder, who have ever reported treatments, ordered by their reporting frequency during the last 5 years.

Who has complex post-traumatic stress disorder on PatientsLikeMe?

Age

Age Proportion # of patients
<20 27
20s 281
30s 719
40s 1,148
50s 1,315
60s 941
70+ 360

Distribution of sex

Sex

Sex Proportion # of patients
Male 904
Female 3,815

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What is complex post-traumatic stress disorder?

Complex PTSD refers to the set of symptoms that commonly follow exposure to traumatic events that are long-lasting and generally involve some form of physical or emotional captivity, such as childhood sexual and/or physical abuse or domestic violence.



Common symptoms reported by people with complex post-traumatic stress disorder

Common symptoms
How bad it is
What people are taking for it

Reports may be affected by other conditions and/or medication side effects. We ask about general symptoms (anxious mood, depressed mood, fatigue, pain, and stress) regardless of condition.
Last updated:



Treatments taken by people for complex post-traumatic stress disorder

Treatment name(s)
Type
How many have tried
Tried for
Type
Psychotherapy
How many have tried
240
Treatment name(s)

(Prozac)
Type
Prescription Drug
How many have tried
530
Type
Psychotherapy
How many have tried
526
Type
Psychotherapy
How many have tried
150
Treatment name(s)

(Paxil)
Type
Prescription Drug
How many have tried
194

Data from patients with complex post-traumatic stress disorder, who have ever reported treatments, ordered by their reporting frequency during the last 5 years.
Last updated:


Compare treatments taken by people with complex post-traumatic stress disorder

Treatment name(s)
Perceived effectiveness
Side effects
Total evaluations
Tried for
Perceived effectiveness
for complex post-traumatic stress disorder (3 evaluations)
Side effects
exhaustion nightmares
Total evaluations
3
Treatment name(s)

(Prozac)
Perceived effectiveness
for complex post-traumatic stress disorder (1 evaluation)
Side effects
Total evaluations
1
Perceived effectiveness
No evaluations
Side effects
No evaluations
Total evaluations
0
Perceived effectiveness
for complex post-traumatic stress disorder (1 evaluation)
Side effects
Total evaluations
1
Treatment name(s)

(Paxil)
Perceived effectiveness
for complex post-traumatic stress disorder (1 evaluation)
Side effects
mania stomach cramps
Total evaluations
1
  • Major
  • Moderate
  • Slight
  • None
  • Can't tell
  • Severe
  • Moderate
  • Mild
  • None

Data from patients with complex post-traumatic stress disorder, who have ever reported treatments, ordered by their reporting frequency during the last 5 years.
Last updated:



Who has complex post-traumatic stress disorder on PatientsLikeMe?

  • 20 new patients joined this month
  • 2,636 say C-PTSD is their primary condition

Age
Age Proportion # of patients
<20 27
20s 281
30s 719
40s 1,148
50s 1,315
60s 941
70+ 360
Age at first symptom
Age at first symptom Proportion # of patients
0-19 years 828
20-29 years 343
30-39 years 286
40-49 years 197
50-59 years 78
60-69 years 13
70+ years 3

Distribution of sex

Sex
Sex Proportion # of patients
Male 904
Female 3,815

Diagnosis status
Diagnosis status Proportion # of patients
Diagnosed 2,090
Not Diagnosed 155

These charts show data from C-PTSD patients who have completed their condition history
Last updated: