most people associate PTSD with war veterans and the trauma caused by their violent, life-threatening experiences on the battlefield. while this is absolutely one type of PTSD, what lots of people don’t know is that this disorder has many different subtypes. diagnosing and understanding a patient’s PTSD subtype correctly is absolutely essential to treating the disorder and improving the patient’s life.
post traumatic stress disorder, often called PTSD, is defined by the DSM-5 — The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders* — as an anxiety disorder triggered by exposure to actual death, the threat of death, serious injury, and/or sexual violation. once the PTSD diagnosis is made, there is often further grouping into one of three commonly accepted subtypes**:
uncomplicated PTSD - uncomplicated PTSD is traced back to one distinct major traumatic event. this PTSD subtype is easier to treat than the other subtypes because one can get to the root of the symptoms quicker and it has been shown to be highly responsive to treatment.
complex PTSD - complex PTSD can be traced back to multiple traumatic events. this subtype is most commonly seen in instances of repeated abuse, domestic violence, or exposure to a violent environment. complex PTSD tends to be more intense than uncomplicated PTSD, and treatment for this subtype often takes longer than treatment for uncomplicated PTSD.
comorbid PTSD - comorbid PTSD is observed when PTSD occurs at the same time as other mental health conditions. these simultaneously occurring disorders are most often anxiety disorders, depression, and/or substance abuse disorder. treatment for this subtype varies depending on the number, types, and severity of the disorders involved.
*the DSM-5 is the mental health handbook that is used by health care professionals throughout the United States and much of the world. it contains detailed criteria for diagnosing various mental health disorders.
**this is not an exhaustive list of subtypes. different professionals may use different subtyping methods.
thank you to these sources for information used in this article:
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