Complex PTSD – a better description for borderline personality disorder?
Abstract
Objective: To consider the use of the diagnostic category ‘complex posttraumatic stress disorder’ (c-PTSD) as detailed in the forthcoming ICD-11 classification system as a less stigmatising, more clinically useful term, instead of the current DSM-5 defined condition of ‘borderline personality disorder’ (BPD). Conclusions: Trauma, in its broadest definition, plays a key role in the development of both c-PTSD and BPD. Given this current lack of differentiation between these conditions, and the high stigma faced by people with BPD, it seems reasonable to consider using the diagnostic term ‘complex posttraumatic stress disorder’ to decrease stigma and provide a trauma-informed approach for BPD patients.
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- Authors
- Kulkarni, J.
- Affiliations
- Monash Alfred Psychiatry Research centre (AU)
- Corresponding author
- Kulkarni, Jayashri
- ORCID
- Kulkarni, Jayashri
- Venue
- Australasian Psychiatry
- Publisher
- SAGE Publications
- Published
- 2017-03-28
- Volume
- 25
- Issue
- 4
- Pages
- 333-335
- ISSN
- 1039-8562 (ISSN-L)
- 1440-1665
- OpenAlex
- W2597780217
- Cited by
- 58
- References
- 29
- Citations by year
- 2026: 5 · 2025: 4 · 2024: 6 · 2023: 10 · 2022: 7 · 2021: 8 · 2020: 7 · 2019: 8 · 2018: 2 · 2017: 1
- FWCI
- 6.09
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Australasian Psychiatry (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Personality Disorders and Psychopathology
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Research
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Psychoanalysis and Psychopathology Research
- Keywords
- complex PTSD, borderline personality disorder, diagnostic terminology, ICD-11, DSM-5, stigma, trauma, trauma-informed care, psychiatric classification
- MeSH terms
- Borderline Personality Disorder, Humans, Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic, Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders
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