Authors
Jennifer Tustison
Published in
Journal of the American Psychiatric Nurses Association. Pages 10783903261488383. Sep 23, 2026. Epub Sep 23, 2026.
Abstract
Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) guidelines are often applied to complex PTSD (CPTSD), despite CPTSD's distinct symptomatology. Core CPTSD symptoms, including affect dysregulation, negative self-concept, and relational disruption, may substantially alter treatment needs and safety considerations for mindfulness-based interventions. This article discusses clinical considerations for recommending meditation more safely in CPTSD populations.
Targeted review of the literature on CPTSD screening instruments, meditation-related adverse effects, dissociation, and informed-consent practices in trauma-sensitive care.
CPTSD is characterized by elevated dissociative symptoms and is commonly associated with histories of childhood adversity; both dissociation and childhood adversity have been independently associated with meditation-related adverse events. Patients with CPTSD may also have self-blame and shame vulnerabilities that predispose them to interpret treatment failure as evidence of personal defectiveness. Standard PTSD screening tools do not capture CPTSD-specific symptomatology, which may limit clinicians' ability to identify patients who would benefit from enhanced informed-consent discussions regarding potential meditation-related adverse effects.
Screening with validated instruments, trauma-informed consent conversations, and evidence-informed technique selection represent low-cost, high-impact practice opportunities. As CPTSD moves toward broader formal diagnostic recognition, clinical recommendations should reflect corresponding diagnostic specificity.
PMID:
42779144
Bibliographic data and abstract were imported from PubMed on 24 Sep 2026.
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