According to a study, complex trauma symptoms of emotional dysregulation, low self-worth, and relational difficulties were linked with psychological dependence of substances. However, there was not a link for PTSD.

Psychological dependence is constantly thinking about or craving to take drugs. In the study, psychological dependence of substances was moderately associated with all the complex trauma symptoms, whereas there were no associations with the PTSD symptoms.

The scientific literature suggests that trauma treatments typically diminish symptoms for both trauma and substance addictions. Studies have found that most people who have sought trauma and addiction treatments struggle with complex PTSD, rather than PTSD. A couple estimates were: 85.7% C-PTSD vs. 14.3% PTSD, and 75.6% C-PTSD vs. 24.4% PTSD.

Emotional neglect seems to be the largest factor for the development of complex trauma. Witnessing or experiencing immense threat, pain, and atypical punishments seems to be the strongest factor for the development of PTSD. A few examples would be a encountering threat to life from violence, crime, or war. Additionally, struggling with chronic pain from a severe injury, or almost dying from an illness. There is a higher probability of having depression and anxiety with CPTSD than with PTSD.

Therapists should frequently assess for perpetual emotional neglect of complex PTSD survivors. Because there is often a lack of explicit traumatic memories for many complex trauma survivors, somatic therapy may be more effective at healing the unconscious traumatic stress stored in the body than EMDR therapy.

Childhood abuse adversely affects millions of children. Many are traumatized as a result, and are negatively affected well into adulthood. One in five women and one in 13 men disclose being sexually abused as a child. These stats are plausibly underreported.

Trauma survivors who have been abused as children have greater chances of developing sensory issues, which are often more intense and last longer than those who did not experience childhood abuse. It is likely that the younger one is exposed to trauma as a child, the less likely they are able to regulate their senses and emotions, thus experiencing more daily distress. Emotional dysregulation is a core feature of complex PTSD.