Emotion regulation in Complex PTSD: a brief literature review

This literature review aimed to examine how emotion regulation difficulties may contribute to the maintenance of Complex PTSD symptoms. The thesis first reviewed the conceptualization and diagnostic characteristics of CPTSD, and subsequently examined potential mechanisms linking traumatic experience to emotion dysregulation. These mechanisms include changes in cognitive appraisal, trauma-related emotional conditioning and associative learning, and the development of maladaptive coping strategies. The review also considered how persistent emotion dysregulation may contribute to difficulties in interpersonal relationships, potentially diminishing social support network. Finally, interventions addressing emotion dysregulation were reviewed, including phase-based treatment, enhanced skills training in affective and interpersonal regulation, and trauma-focused cognitive behavioral therapy. Overall, the reviewed literature suggests that emotion dysregulation may represent an important mechanism linking prolonged interpersonal trauma with persistent CPTSD symptoms. However, CPTSD-specific evidence remains limited, and many findings are derived from PTSD or broader trauma-exposed populations. Further CPTSD-specific and longitudinal research is needed to clarify these mechanisms and to inform more individualized approaches to treatment.