Traumatic experiences, ICD‐11 PTSD, ICD‐11 complex PTSD, and the overlap with ICD‐10 diagnoses

L Møller,M Augsburger,A Elklit,E Simonsen,U Søgaard

doi:10.1111/acps.13161

Abstract

ObjectivesThis study investigated the frequency of traumatic experiences, prevalence rates of ICD‐11 post‐traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and complex PTSD (CPTSD), and overlap with ICD‐10 classified disorders in outpatient psychiatry.MethodOverall, 165 Danish psychiatric outpatients answered the International Trauma Questionnaire, the Life Event Checklist, and the World Health Organization Well‐being Index. ICD‐10 diagnoses were extracted from the hospital record. Chi‐square analysis, t‐tests, and conditional probability analysis were used for statistical analysis.ResultsNearly, all patients (94%) had experienced at least one traumatic event. CPTSD (36%) was more common than PTSD (8%) and had considerable overlap with ICD‐10 affective, anxiety, PTSD, personality, adjustment and stress‐reaction disorders, and behavioural and emotional disorders with onset usually occurring in childhood and adolescence. ICD‐11 PTSD overlapped with ICD‐10 anxiety, PTSD, adjustment and stress‐reaction disorders, and behavioural and emotional disorders with onset usually occurring in childhood and adolescence. A subgroup of patients with ICD‐10 PTSD (23%) did not meet criteria for ICD‐11 PTSD or CPTSD.ConclusionTraumatic experiences are common. ICD‐11 CPTSD is a highly prevalent disorder in psychiatric outpatients. One quarter with ICD‐10 PTSD did not meet criteria for either ICD‐11 PTSD or CPTSD. PTSD and CPTSD had considerable overlap with ICD‐10 disorders.

Highlights

Exposure to traumatic experiences is found to be very high in psychiatric populations and multiple exposures are often the case ((1–4))
This study investigated the frequency of traumatic experiences, prevalence rates of ICD‐11 post‐traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and complex post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) (CPTSD), and overlap with ICD‐10 classified disorders in outpatient psychiatry
ICD‐11 PTSD overlapped with ICD‐10 anxiety, PTSD, adjustment and stress‐reaction disorders, and behavioural and emotional disorders with onset usually occurring in childhood and adolescence

Summary

Introduction

Exposure to traumatic experiences is found to be very high in psychiatric populations and multiple exposures are often the case ((1–4)). Exposure to traumatic experience can lead to post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD); it is a general risk factor for several mental disorders and may be associated with severity and comorbidity ((5–7)). This is especially true for interpersonal traumatic experiences that occurred in childhood ((6, 8–11)). Exposure to specific types of traumatic experiences varies by sex, with men more frequently exposed to physical assault and combat and women to rape and sexual assault ((12)). Despite the evidence of high exposure to traumatic experiences in various psychiatric populations and its clinical consequences, exposure to traumatic experiences continues to be neglected in daily practice ((3))

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