Complex PTSD has been the subject of much debate in mental health sector since it was first identified by Dr. Judith Herman in the 1990’s. It was finally accepted as an official diagnosis in 2018, in large part due to the preponderance of evidence- based research included in this bibliography. Complex PTSD is now included in the 11th edition of the World Health Organization’s (WHO) International Classification of Diseases (ICD-11) (published 2022). The WHO ICD is one of two main diagnostic manuals used around the world by mental health and medical professionals. The other is the American Psychiatric Organization’s Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (APA DSM). Complex PTSD has not yet been included in DSM.
The research included in this bibliography indicates that ongoing relational trauma, particularly in childhood, affects a number of physical systems (e.g., cardiovascular/circulatory, endocrine, autoimmune), resulting to an array of serious, often life-threatening comorbid medical conditions in survivors (e.g., cancer, diabetes, cardiac and inflammatory diseases, sleep disorders). In 2019 the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention confirmed in a report that childhood trauma causes major health problems and is a serious public health issue.
Psychosocial Comorbidities