Trauma Sequelae and Dissociative Disorders
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and Complex PTSD
Traumatic experiences can profoundly change a person’s life. They arise when exceptionally distressing events overwhelm one’s coping mechanisms and shake fundamental feelings of safety, trust, and control. The consequences are diverse and may manifest as recurrent memories, nightmares, and persistent inner tension. Difficulties in relationships and daily life are also common.
Of particular clinical relevance are Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and Complex Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (CPTSD). The latter is characterized by specific symptoms that go beyond those of classic PTSD (WHO, 2023):
- Difficulties in emotion regulation: Affected individuals struggle to manage their emotions appropriately. This may manifest as emotional outbursts, intense inner agitation, or pronounced anger.
- Alterations in self-concept: Many patients experience enduring negative beliefs about themselves, such as feeling that their life is damaged or that they are “fundamentally flawed.” Persistent feelings of guilt and shame are common.
- Interpersonal difficulties: Recurrent conflicts, mistrust, or a sense of being unable to rely on others often shape the social environment of those affected.
In addition, many individuals with CPTSD show an increased tendency toward dissociative symptoms, such as a sense of internal detachment or temporary estrangement from their own body or experiences.
Dissociative Disorders
Dissociative symptoms can be so pronounced that they constitute distinct clinical conditions. According to the ICD-11, these disorders are characterized by involuntary, partial or complete disruptions of sensations and perceptions, affects, thoughts and memories, control over bodily movements and behavior, and ultimately the experience of identity or self-awareness. Particularly striking is the (potentially partial) Dissociative Identity Disorder, but trance disorders and functional seizure disorders are also included in this category.
Functional Neurological Disorders
The term refers to disorders presenting with physical or somatoform-dissociative symptoms. Individuals may experience paralysis-like phenomena, tremors of the limbs, dizziness, or voice disturbances. Symptoms typically begin, end, or change suddenly, and over time, patients often exhibit several functional neurological symptoms. These symptoms cannot be attributed to a classical medical or “structural” cause and are therefore considered functional within somatically oriented disciplines such as neurology.
Our Treatment Approach
In our psychiatric outpatient clinic, we offer targeted diagnostics for trauma-related and dissociative disorders (including functional neurological disorders).
In inpatient settings, additional psychotherapeutic and multimodal stabilization techniques are provided, complemented by pharmacological treatment of specific symptoms and comorbid psychiatric conditions. Patients are thereby prepared for trauma-specific therapies, including exposure or confrontation modules, which in certain cases can also be conducted directly in our clinic.
Our treatment program is designed for adults aged 18 and older and is based on modern, evidence-based methods. Our goal is to create a space that fosters healing, stabilization, and personal growth.
