Complex trauma and Trauma-Focused Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy: How do trauma chronicity and PTSD presentation affect treatment outcome?

Background: Traumatic experiences are common in youth and can be classified as acute (one incident or short-term) or complex (chronic exposure to multiple traumas) experiences. Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a common response to trauma, often co-occurring with other mental health symptoms. According to the International Classification of Diseases, 11 Edition (World Health Organization, 2018), complex PTSD includes difficulties with affect regulation, interpersonal relationships, and self-blame.