ABSTRACT
Case conceptualisation in complex posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is the topic of this chapter. A case formulation is the ‘lynch pin that holds theory and practice together’ (Butler 1998). It can be viewed as a theoretically guided way of structuring information concerning a patient’s presenting difficulties (Wolpe and Turkat 1985). It provides an explanatory system within which the material presented by the client can be understood and therein offers direction to apply an appropriate intervention in the light of a particular theory (Butler 1998). Thus it is essential that any discussions of case conceptualisation in complex PTSD emerge from an exploration of the theory. For the purposes of this chapter, complex PTSD is defined and a brief review of current theories is presented. Finally, illustrative casework is used to demonstrate how one can integrate current theoretical understandings of PTSD with clinical interventions.
