PTSD and CPTSD in the new ICD-11: A latent profile analysis

In the 11th version of the WHO´s International Classification of Diseases, complex post-traumatic stress disorder (CPTSD) is newly recognized as a variant of PTSD, characterized by additional and more severe symptoms and typically arising from prolonged or multiple traumatic experiences. Despite recent research supporting the differentiation between PTSD and CPTSD, studies also identify a third or even a fourth latent profile in trauma patients. This study employs latent profile analysis to identify the number of latent profiles within a clinical trauma population in Germany (N = 588) and aims to investigate their distinct symptomatology. The results of the present study reveal three latent profiles: two profiles similar to PTSD and CPTSD, and a third profile with a distinctively low quality of life that does not fit neatly into either category. This supports the updated classification in the ICD-11 but also aligns with previous research having identified more than two profiles. The present study provides a comprehensive examination of the distinct symptomatology of latent trauma profiles, enabling the development of tailored interventions.