APPROACH TO MANAGEMENT OF COMPLEX TRAUMA

Can the person tellyou what is wrong?

Have they been able to identify the issues, prioritise and make informed decisions about supports that would help?

‘The informative patient’

A communication issue (e.g. thought disorder, psychosis)

Emotional distress‘The distressed patient’Management<ul><li>Distress regulation</li><li>Increasing supports</li><li>Enhancing positive resources</li></ul>

Psychologically unaware‘The avoidant patient’Management<ul><li>Psychoeducation</li><li>Developing psychological awareness</li></ul>

Acute stressors/social factors<ul><li>Relationships</li><li>Social isolation</li><li>Vocation</li><li>Finances</li></ul>

Developmental issues/Personality factorsManagement<ul><li>Psychodynamic therapies</li><li>Family systems therapy (if there are family dynamic issues).</li><li>If above inaccessible, clinicians can provide supportive therapy.</li></ul>

Biological factorsManagement<ul><li>Biological Treatments</li><li>Smoking cessation</li><li>Alcohol cessation</li><li>Pharmacotherapy</li></ul>

Management<ul><li>Use a biopsychosocial framework</li><li>Focused psychological strategies</li><li>Cognitive behavioural</li><li>therapy</li><li>Interpersonal therapy.</li><li>In cPTSD - Prioritise management targeted to symptoms</li></ul>

Diagrams