Childhood Adversity Archives

Childhood Adversity and Complex Trauma: What Does the Research Tell Us? Exploring the links between early experiences, CPTSD and BPD Childhood adversity was one of the significant themes to emerge from my postgraduate Traumatology dissertation literature review. Across the research I examined, there were recurring discussions about childhood abuse, neglect, attachment and the possible long-term effects of adverse experiences. The literature also raised important questions about the relationship between childhood adversity, Complex Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (CPTSD) and Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD). But what can research tell us about these relationships? And how can we understand the findings without assuming that everyone who experiences childhood adversity will develop psychological difficulties? What do we mean by childhood adversity? Childhood adversity can encompass a range of experiences, including physical, sexual and emotional abuse, neglect and harmful or unsafe caregiving environments. Some people experience one particularly distressing event, while others experience repeated or prolonged adversity, sometimes within relationships in which they depend on adults for safety and care. The nature, duration and...

CPTSD and BPD: Similarities, Differences and Diagnostic Complexity Understanding the overlap between Complex Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (CPTSD) and Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD) One of the most interesting themes to emerge from my postgraduate Traumatology dissertation was the complex relationship between Complex Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (CPTSD) and Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD). Both diagnoses can involve significant emotional distress, difficulties with relationships and challenges in regulating emotions. Both have also been associated in research with experiences of childhood adversity and interpersonal trauma. Yet, although there are areas of overlap, the literature I reviewed suggested that CPTSD and BPD should not simply be understood as the same condition. In this third article in my research series, I explore what the literature suggested about their similarities, differences and the importance of careful, individualised assessment. Why is the distinction important? CPTSD was recognised as a distinct diagnosis in the World Health Organization’s ICD-11 classification. Alongside the core features of PTSD, CPTSD includes difficulties known as disturbances in self-organisation (DSO). These involve difficulties...