Reflection on Complex Trauma

This presentation provides an overview of complex trauma, its background, patient care, multidisciplinary team involved, and more. It highlights the difference between the needs of non-complex and/or non-trauma patients and the immediate priorities of patient care. The presentation also reflects on the necessary steps to diagnose complex trauma and the importance of a patient-based approach.

Reflection on Complex Trauma
Name of the Student:
Name of the University:
Authors note:

Background of Complex Trauma
Complex trauma is a kind of psychological disorder which is combination
of
 retentive stress or
 trauma developed over the time.
It is normally and interpersonal effect
The people with Complex Trauma or CT can develop Complex Post
traumatic Disorder or C-PTD.
It can be found in adults as well as in children (Cook et al., 2017).
However, both have potentially long term effect on the affected.

Background of the Patient
 23 year old woman
Caucasian woman has
a history of :
 Physical abuse
Psychological abuse
Bullying
Symptoms of the Patient
 Attachment Disorder
 Issues with Self Esteem
 Emotional Regularities
 Somatic Symptoms
 Cognitive problems

Specializes Needs of the Patient
It is to be understood that since every patient has special kind of assistance due to
various reasons:
Emotional vulnerabilities and may be polivictimized (Musicaro et.al., 2017).
Neurobiological problems
Have greater susceptibility neurobiological problems
They are unable to lead a normal lives (Australian Government-Australian Institute
of Family Studies, 2019)
Sometimes the caregivers also face a mental trauma
Complex Trauma in childhood and the developmental stages can be damaging
Tendency towards substance abuse
Inability address their emotional requirements

Relation between the type of trauma and
mechanism of Injury
The traumatic brain injury which is an external injury
to the brain can result from (Mechanism of Injury):
 Violence or
 Physical abuse
It can be a result of the complex trauma resulting
from the physical abuse and violence
Sometimes the patient might not be even aware of
the trauma that has caused to him or her.
Recent finding suggest that there is a relation
between impulsivity and suicidal behaviour.
The neurobiological vulnerability can to suicidal risk
can be due to the changes in the frontal white matter
(Gunter et al., 2013).

Difference between the needs of
non-complex and/or non-trauma
patientThe complex trauma is different from the trauma caused due to a single
incident.
Impacts of the complex trauma can be more than the more critical and
weakening mentally and physically.
Since there is an involvement of multiple incidences , the therapeutically
approach has to be personalised and patient centred.
The patients might have difficulty in expressing themselves.
Exposed to psychiatric disorder or chronic medical illness (Cook et al.,
2017).
The patient in case of complex trauma might have varied cognitive
impairments which can occur due to traumatic brain injury in his childhood.

Immediate Priorities of Patient
Care
If the patient has any physical injury then that should be attended first.
Patient based treatment, Each patient has an unique key to the
treatment, hence there has to be personalised approach towards
treating a complex trauma patient.
 Trauma focused Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (de Arellano et al.,
2014).
Evidence based practise has to be attempted
Anti-depressant medications like :Prozac could be given,
anticonvulsants, antipsychotic drug.
Therapeutic Treatment and establishing a therapeutic relationship
between the general practitioner or the nurse (Lawson, Davis &
Brandon, 2013).

Multidisciplinary Team involved
in caring for the patient
Will help optimize care
Reduce mortality (Bach et al., 2017).
Accelerated rehabilitation course
after the traumatic brain injury
Therapeutic Interaction as well as
relationships

Reflection
necessary to diagnose
 As complex trauma can be different
from the non-trauma patients
they might not be able express
themselves properly.
patient based approach.
Family centred communication.
therapeutic relationship has to be
established.

References
• Australian Government-Australian Institute of Family Studies. (2019). Acknowledging
complexity in the impacts of sexual victimisation trauma. Retrieved from.
https://aifs.gov.au/publications/acknowledging-complexity-impacts-sexual-victimisation-trau
ma/export
• Bach, J. A., Leskovan, J. J., Scharschmidt, T., Boulger, C., Papadimos, T. J., Russell, S., ... &
Stawicki, S. P. (2017). The right team at the right time–Multidisciplinary approach to multi-
trauma patient with orthopedic injuries. International journal of critical illness and injury
science, 7(1), 32.
• Blue Knot Foundation. (2019). Definition of complex trauma versus single incident. Retrieved
from
https://www.blueknot.org.au/Resources/Information/Understanding-abuse-and-trauma/Wha
t-is-complex-trauma
• Cook, A., Spinazzola, J., Ford, J., Lanktree, C., Blaustein, M., Cloitre, M., ... & Mallah, K. (2017).
Complex trauma in children and adolescents. Psychiatric annals, 35(5), 390-398.
• de Arellano, M. A. R., Lyman, D. R., Jobe-Shields, L., George, P., Dougherty, R. H., Daniels, A. S.,
... & Delphin-Rittmon, M. E. (2014). Trauma-focused cognitive-behavioral therapy for children

References
• Lawson, D. M., Davis, D., & Brandon, S. (2013). Treating complex trauma: Critical
interventions with adults who experienced ongoing trauma in childhood.
Psychotherapy, 50(3), 331.
• Musicaro, R. M., Spinazzola, J., Arvidson, J., Swaroop, S. R., Goldblatt Grace, L., Yarrow,
A., ... & Ford, J. D. (2019). The complexity of adaptation to childhood polyvictimization in
youth and young adults: Recommendations for multidisciplinary responders. Trauma,
Violence, & Abuse, 20(1), 81-98.
• Roozenbeek, B., Maas, A. I., & Menon, D. K. (2013). Changing patterns in the
epidemiology of traumatic brain injury. Nature Reviews Neurology, 9(4), 231.
• Ryan, K., Lane, S. J., & Powers, D. (2017). A multidisciplinary model for treating complex
trauma in early childhood. International Journal of Play Therapy, 26(2), 111.
• Stokes, Y., Jacob, J. D., Gifford, W., Squires, J., & Vandyk, A. (2017). Exploring Nurses'
Knowledge and Experiences Related to Trauma-Informed Care. Global qualitative
nursing research, 4, 2333393617734510.