Complex post-traumatic stress disorder: a new diagnosis in ICD-11

Abstract

The World Health Organization's proposals in ICD-11, released for comment by member states in 2018, introduce for the first time in a major diagnostic system a distinction between post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and complex post-traumatic stress disorder (CPTSD). This article sets the new diagnosis of CPTSD within the context of previous similar formulations, describes its definition and requirements, and reviews the evidence concerning its epidemiology, differential diagnosis, assessment and treatment.