Citation

Dorrepaal E, Thomaes K, Smit JH, Hoogendoorn A, Veltman DJ, van Balkom AJ, Draijer N. J. Trauma Dissociation 2012; 13(3): 271-290.

Affiliation

GGZ inGeest , Amsterdam , The Netherlands.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2012, Informa - Taylor and Francis Group)

DOI

10.1080/15299732.2011.641496

PMID

22545563

Abstract

Objective: Complex posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) involves a variety of personality disturbances presumed to result from repeated interpersonal trauma such as child abuse. As Complex PTSD patients are a heterogeneous population, we searched for clinically relevant personality-based subtypes. Method: This study used a cluster analysis of Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fourth Edition (DSM-IV), Axis II features within a sample of 71 female outpatients with systematically assessed child abuse-related Complex PTSD. Results: Two main subtypes were found: adaptive and nonadaptive. The latter was further differentiated into withdrawn, alienated, suffering, and aggressive subtypes, characterized by different levels of introversion and disinhibition. Among the nonadaptive subtypes, the severity of Complex PTSD symptoms was lowest in the withdrawn (introverted only) subtype. The subtypes differed in their level of dissociation and depression but did not differ regarding PTSD symptoms, trauma history, or parental bonding characteristics. Conclusion: Confirming earlier findings, our study found personality-based Complex PTSD subtypes, which could implicate differential treatment needs and results.

Language: en