New treatment approaches for Complex PTSD

 

Summary

Complex PTSD is a term used to denote a severe form of PTSD comprising symptom clusters reflecting difficulties in regulating emotions, disturbances in relational capacities, and adversely affected belief systems. From a clinical point of view, there are a number of challenges when treating patients with Complex PTSD, including the fact that many of them are afraid of a confrontation with their memories and emotions, that severe abreactions can occur, that dissociation may limit access to the trauma memories during the sessions, that SUD levels do not decline, and that cognitive distortions, for instance about guilt, do not shift. Also, other issues (e.g., regarding self-concept and improvement of relationships) need specific clinical work. Yet, there is mounting evidence from research showing that the general recommendation of trauma-focused treatments as first-line interventions for PTSD is also valid for those suffering from Complex PTSD. But how can this be done in an effective and efficient manner within a limited number of sessions? The purpose of this workshop is learning to overcome difficulties that are associated with the treatment of individuals with Complex PTSD, and to become familiar with new effective techniques to deal with these problems (e.g., by targeting the fear of decompensation due to facing the trauma memories, or by employing high levels of working memory taxation to rapidly process the trauma memories). This will be illustrated by video segments of treatment sessions with a wide range of individuals suffering from Complex PTSD and severe comorbidities. Of course, participants are given the opportunity to practice with the new material.

 

Learning Outcomes

- Making use of state of the art knowledge about Complex PTSD

- Being capable of using evidence based, trauma-focused treatment strategies for complex patients using EMDR

- Being able to deal with abreactions, blocking and dissociation in Complex PTSD patients

 

About the Presenter

Ad de Jongh, Ph.D. is clinical psychologist and professor of Anxiety and Behavior Disorders at the University of Amsterdam. Further, he is honorary professor in psychology at the School of Health Sciences of Salford University in Manchester, at the Institute of Health and Society of the University of Worcester, and at the School of Psychology of Queen’s University in Belfast. In 2015 Ad de Jongh was involved in establishing the Psychotrauma Expertise Center (PSYTREC), a mental health institution in the Netherlands that uses a short, and highly intensive treatment program for Complex PTSD, where he is a member of the board of directors. He is approved trainer for the EMDR Europe association. He is an expert in the treatment of anxiety disorders, and involved in research on the efficacy of evidence-based treatments for a wide variety of patient groups, including traumatized children, people with intellectual disabilities and other complex psychiatric conditions such as psychosis. He (co-)authored more than 400 articles/book chapters and 6 books on his areas of expertise.

 

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