What really counts as trauma? Dr. Nisir Ghami untangles PTSD, complex trauma, and everyday stress in a candid live‑stream.

In this live‑stream Dr. Ghami clarifies the classic meaning of trauma—rare, extreme events such as combat or sexual abuse—versus the universal negative life experiences everyone endures. He argues that the term “complex trauma” has become overly broad, blurring the line between true trauma and ordinary stressors.

Key points: only a minority experience true trauma; about 85 % of those exposed do not develop PTSD, showing that biology, personality (e.g., neuroticism) and other risk factors are decisive. PTSD requires a traumatic event and symptoms persisting beyond six months, while acute stress reactions often resolve naturally. The “complex trauma” label lacks solid scientific validation and can lead clinicians to misattribute mood disorders to past stress.

For deeper insight see the studies cited in the video: Bodkin JA, Pope HG, Detke MJ, Hudson JI. Is PTSD caused by traumatic stress? J Anxiety Disord. 2007;21(2):176‑82. doi: 10.1016/j.janxdis.2006.09.004. Jones PJ, McNally RJ. Does broadening one’s concept of trauma undermine resilience? Psychol Trauma. 2022 Apr;14(S1):S131‑S139. doi: 10.1037/tra0001063. Sampson L, Gradus JL, Cabral HJ, et al. Stressful life events and incident depression among U.S. military personnel. Soc Psychiatry Psychiatr Epidemiol. 2023 Jul;58(7):1009‑1018. doi: 10.1007/s00127-023-02445-9.

Subscribe for more deep dives into mental health.