Cluster Of Symptoms Of C-PTSD

Is C-PTSD replacing BPD? 🤔
Why is BPD having to look over its shoulder? 🚨
Let’s explore this shift 👇

The rise of Complex PTSD (C-PTSD) reflects the longstanding limitations in how Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD) has been understood. 🌟

Here’s why this shift matters:

1. Neglect of Biology & Neurodevelopment
BPD theories have often ignored the biological consequences of trauma and allostatic load—the chronic toll of stress on the body and brain.
These effects can impact:
🧠 Neurodevelopment: Emotional regulation, impulse control, and stress response.
🩺 Physical Health: Increased risks of cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and more.
Yet, these factors remain overlooked in traditional BPD frameworks (translational to clinical practice)

🧠 2. Neurodevelopment in BPD: A Missing Piece
Trauma and early adversity during critical developmental windows alter brain circuits, particularly in areas regulating:
-Emotional regulation (limbic system)
-Impulse control (prefrontal cortex)
– Stress response (HPA axis)
Yet, guidelines on BPD pay scant attention to this. For example:
The APA guidelines mention ASD in 4 -5 lines.
ADHD, despite co-occurrence in being high in BPD cases, is absent.
“Studies estimate a genetic overlap of approximately 60% between the two disorders, with ADHD patients having a 19.4-fold increased risk of developing BPD.” [Ditrich et al., 2021]

3. Why is this significant? 📣
A recent study found:
“ADHD medications were the only pharmacological group associated with reduced risk of psychiatric rehospitalization or death in individuals with BPD.” Lieslehto et al., 2023
Neglecting ADHD (Neurodevelopment) in BPD is like leaving a crucial piece of the puzzle on the table. 🧩
(this is not so much about the label of ADHD as it is about cognition)

🏥 3. Overlooked Comorbidities
BPD often overlaps with other conditions like depression, anxiety, PTSD, etc. Yet, recent guidelines dedicate only 3 pages to managing these complexities.
This leaves clinicians and patients without a clear roadmap for addressing the full spectrum of challenges. 📄

🚨 4. The Consequences
A reductionistic focus on psychological therapies alone has resulted in:
~50% inadequate response rates to therapy.
-Increased early mortality (from non-suicide causes).
-Persistent gaps in physical care.
BPD deserves a broader and more integrative approach. 🔍

🌍 5. What C-PTSD Brings
C-PTSD offers a biopsychosocial lens, explicitly recognizing:
Cognitive impairments 🧩
Somatic symptoms 🩺
It builds on BPD’s framework.
This broader lens ensures that these domains are evaluated and treated.

6. Is C-PTSD perfect? No. ❌
But it represents an evolution-a step toward addressing the full complexity of trauma’s impact on the body, mind, and relationships.

Ultimately, it’s not about the label- It’s about creating models of care that truly integrate biological, psychological, and social aspects.