Trauma Disorders

The following information is a compilation of recognized traumatic disorders (not including childhood specific diagnoses) in the American Psychiatric Association Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5-TR), the World Health Organizations International Classification of Diseases (ICD-11), and disorders that have a high correlation to chronic and repetitive developmental traumatic experiences. Dissociative Disorders are among those that are considered trauma based and are discussed more in depth under the Dissociative Disorders section.

 
 

Acute Stress Disorder and Post Traumatic Stress Disorder

Both Acute Stress Disorder and Post Traumatic Stress Disorder require exposure to an actual or threatened type of traumatic event. The ICD-11 and the DSM-5-TR have different ways of defining what is considered a traumatic event. In the U.S most insurance companies require diagnosis codes for mental health to come from the DSM-5-TR. However the ICD-11 diagnosis codes are used in medicine and have (in my opinion) better descriptions of client experiences for both PTSD and ASD. However if you are getting your diagnosis from a mental health provider, most are trained only to use the DSM as their diagnostic book. Acute Stress Disorder is typically diagnosed if someone seeks treatment right after a traumatic event and last 3 days to 1 month after the event. If symptoms worsen or do not subside after 1 month, a diagnosis of PTSD is then considered. I am linking the diagnostic criteria for PTSD from the ICD-11 for your information.

Complex Post Traumatic Stress Disorder and Borderline Personality Disorder

The diagnosis of Complex Post Traumatic Stress Disorder at this time only exists in the ICD-11. Because of this, many times if a provider does not do a full trauma history, clients can be misdiagnosed. The most common misdiagnosis for CPTSD is Borderline Personality Disorder, especially when using only the DSM-5-TR as a guide. However that does not mean a client cannot have both CPTSD and BPD. Therefore a thorough assessment must be conducted to better understand what is happening. Many times if a client can successfully work through their CPTSD symptoms, then anything that was once considered BPD can significantly improve to the point that a BPD diagnosis is no longer appropriate. However research has shown that BPD has been found in individuals without exposure to traumatic experiences and is therefore a valid diagnosis to be considered, even when trauma is involved.

Other Disorders that are linked to Trauma

If you go back to the section on how trauma impacts the body, you can understand why other diagnoses can be given to individuals who suffer from complex trauma. This does not mean that those diagnostic labels are bad or wrong, but they may not fully reflect what is going on with someone. The problem with not recognizing and treating for complex trauma is that many times the treatment approaches become based only on specific symptom management and not on the reason behind the symptoms. This can result in people not getting better, feeling like somehow they failed or that they are so broken that they cannot be helped. This can lead to lost time and money over years. If you have found yourself in a situation like this and have been given multiple different diagnoses throughout the years and put on different medications that do not seem to work like “they should”, then it might be time to explore working with a trained trauma therapist. These other disorders include but at not limited to:

  • Eating Disorders

  • Addiction

  • Depression

  • Anxiety / Panic

  • ADHD

  • Bipolar Disorders (especially being told you have rapid cycling)

  • Personality Disorders

  • OCD