Examining the Diagnostic Construct of Complex PTSD Among a Sample of PTSD Patients in Iraq

This paper aims to Examining the presence of the diagnostic construct of complex PTSD among the Iraqi sample of PTSD and Describe the frequency of occurrence of symptom categories of complex PTSD and the relationship of these symptoms with the demographic characteristics.

A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted at Ibn-Rushid Psychiatric Hospital, Baghdad Medical City, and Ibn-Sena Teaching Hospital, involving 52 patients with post-traumatic stress disorder, collected over ten months and analyzed through direct interviews.

 The interview formed of the following:

1.Sociodemographic data (age, gender, education, occupation, marital status).

2.Self-rating questionnaire derived from diagnostic criteria of complex PTSD.

The prevalence of complex PTSD in Iraqi Patients who had already been diagnosed with PTSD were (28.8%), explained by the high resilience of people in our society.

Complex PTSD were more common in males (60%) while (40%) in females, and this is explained by the fact that males in our country are more exposed to traumatic events.

(80%) of complex PTSD sample were between 25 and 45 yrs. of age, (33.3%) of complex PTSD Patients were employed, the military represent (26.6%) of the complex PTSD Patients, others were freelancers or unemployed, and more than half of complex PTSD Patients were married (60%).

Complex PTSD affects 28.8% of patients, predominantly young, male, married, highly educated, with previous psychiatric visits and employed. Common complaints include altered affect, impulses, and meaning systems.