Clinical Topics & Methods Category

A Research Programme to Evaluate DBT-PTSD, a Modular Treatment Approach for Complex PTSD After Childhood Abuse

1.5 CE Hour
55 members have taken this course

Updated 19 days ago. Consider reviewing the exam questions below before taking the exam.

Enroll In This Course

About the Course

Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) after childhood abuse (CA) is often related to severe co-occurring psychopathology, such as symptoms of borderline personality disorder (BPD). Researchers are still trying to identify efficacious treatment programmes for this group of patients. DBT-PTSD was designed to meet the specific needs of patients with Complex PTSD. The treatment programme is based on the rules and principles of dialectical behavioural therapy (DBT), and adds interventions derived from cognitive behavioural therapy, acceptance and commitment therapy and compassion-focused therapy. This course focuses on the efficacy of DBT-PTSD programmes as well as the reasons for the efficacy and specific areas that are improved with this intervention.

This course is based on the reading-based online article, A Research Programme to Evaluate DBT-PTSD, a Modular Treatment Approach for Complex PTSD After Childhood Abuse created by Martin Bohus, M.D. et al. in 2019.

Publication Details

Publication Date: Borderline Personality Disorder and Emotion Dysregulation (2019) 6:7 Mar 2019

Course Material Authors

Course Material Authors authored the material only, and were not involved in creating this CE course. They are identified here for your own evaluation of the relevancy of the material this course is based on.

Martin Bohus, M.D.

Martin Bohus, M.D., received his specialty in Psychiatry and in Psychosomatic Medicine. Since 2003 he has held the Chair of Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy at Heidelberg University and is Scientific Director at the Central Institute of Mental Health in Mannheim, Germany. He holds a visiting professorship at the University of Antwerp and Harvard Medical School. He has received several awards for psychotherapy research. He is past president of the European Society for the Studies of Personality Disorders (ESSPD) and is president of the German Association for DBT. He was president and initiator of the 1st International Congress on Borderline Personality Disorder in Berlin in 2010. He has currently published more than 300 articles and book chapters, mainly on mechanisms of psychotherapy, borderline personality disorders, and PTSD.

Christian Schmahl, M.D.

Christian Schmahl, M.D., is Professor of Experimental Psychopathology and Medical Director of the Department of Psychosomatic Medicine at the Central Institute of Mental Health in Mannheim, Germany. His research focus is on emotion regulation, self-injurious behavior and dissociation as well as the interaction of neurobiology and psychotherapy in Borderline Personality Disorder and Posttraumatic Stress Disorder. Since 2018 he is a spokesperson of the Research Training Group "Impact of Adverse Childhood Experience on Psychosocial and Somatic Conditions across the Lifespan."

Target Audience

Counselors, marriage and family therapists, psychologists and social workers. This course is appropriate for all levels of knowledge.

Learning Objectives

After taking this activity, you should be able to:

  1. 1 Discuss the correlation between CA, BPD, and Complex PTSD.
  2. 2 Summarize how DBT-PTSD has been modified to address BPD and PTSD after CA.
  3. 3 List the treatment phases of DBT-PTSD.
  4. 4 Explain the difference between intrusions and dissociations.

Disclosure to Learners

CE Learning Systems adheres to the ACCME's Standards for Integrity and Independence in Accredited Continuing Medical Education. Any individuals in a position to control the content of a CE activity – including faculty, planners, reviewers, or others ― are required to disclose all relevant financial relationships with ineligible entities (formerly known as commercial interests).

The following relevant financial relationships have been disclosed by this activity's planners, faculty, and the reviewer:

Planners and Reviewers

The planners of this activity have reported that they have no relevant financial relationships.

Material Authors

Any relevant financial disclosures for course material authors can be found in the article.

Commercial support

There is no commercial support for this distance-learning course.

Use our CE Approvals tool to look up your state requirements and how can help you meet them, or log in to your member account to show approvals relevant to your licensure.

Joint Accreditation (JA)

1.5 Psychologist CE credit hour
1.5 Social Worker CE credit hour Clinical
Eligible until Feb 1st, 2028
In support of improving patient care, CE Learning Systems, LLC, is jointly accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME), the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE), and the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC), to provide continuing education for the healthcare team.
More Info
Logo: Jointly Accredited Provider (tm) - Interprofessional Continuing Education

American Psychological Association (APA)

1.5 CE credit hour Clinical
Eligible until Feb 1st, 2028
Continuing Education (CE) credits for psychologists are provided through the co-sponsorship of the American Psychological Association (APA) Office of Continuing Education in Psychology (CEP). The APA CEP Office maintains responsibility for the content of the programs.
More Info
Logo: American Psychological Association

Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB ACE)

1.5 CE credit hour Clinical
Eligible until Feb 1st, 2028
As a Jointly Accredited Organization, CE Learning Systems LLC is approved to offer social work continuing education by the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) Approved Continuing Education (ACE) program. Organizations, not individual courses, are approved under this program. Regulatory boards are the final authority on courses accepted for continuing education credit. Social workers completing this course receive 1.5 clinical continuing education credit(s).
More Info
Logo: ASWB ACE approved continuing education

National Board for Certified Counselors (NBCC)

1.5 CE credit hour
Eligible until Apr 30th, 2026
CE Learning Systems has been approved by NBCC as an Approved Continuing Education Provider, ACEP No. 5951. Programs that do not qualify for NBCC credit are clearly identified. CE Learning Systems is solely responsible for all aspects of the programs. 1.5 NBCC hour(s) awarded.
More Info
Logo: Approved Education Provider - NBCC

Florida Board of Clinical Social Work, Marriage and Family Therapy and Mental Health Counseling (FL CSW, MFT, MHC)

1.5 CE credit hour
Eligible until Mar 27th, 2027
Impact CE, a service of CE Learning Systems, is approved by the Florida Board of Clinical Social Work, Marriage and Family Therapy and Mental Health Counseling (Provider # 50-315).
More Info

Florida Board of Psychology

1.5 CE credit hour
Eligible until Dec 30th, 2028
Impact CE, a service of CE Learning Systems, is approved by the Florida Board of Psychology (Provider # 50-315).
More Info

New York Education Department Board of Social Work

1.5 contact hour
Eligible until Mar 30th, 2027
CE Learning Systems, LLC, (d/b/a impactce.com) is recognized by the New York State Education Department's State Board for Social Work as an approved provider of continuing education for licensed social workers. Provider #0060.
More Info

New York Education Department Board of Mental Health Counseling

1.5 CE credit hour
Eligible until Jul 29th, 2026
CE Learning Systems, LLC (d/b/a impactce.com) is recognized by the New York State Education Department's State Board for Mental Health Practitioners as an approved provider of continuing education for licensed mental health counselors. #MHC-0072.
More Info

New York Education Department Board of Psychologists

1.5 CE credit hour
Eligible until Dec 29th, 2026
CE Learning Systems, LLC, (d/b/a impactce.com) is recognized by the New York State Education Department's State Board for Psychology as an approved provider of continuing education for psychologists, # PSY-0016.
More Info

New York Education Department Board of Marriage and Family Therapy

1.5 CE credit hour
Eligible until May 30th, 2027
CE Learning Systems, LLC (d/b/a impactce.com) is recognized by the New York State Education Department's State Board for Mental Health Practitioners as an approved provider of continuing education for licensed marriage and family therapists #MFT-0045.
More Info

Course Material

Course Material

References begin on page13.

Access Course Material

Viewing External Material

This course material is hosted by , a web site separate from Impact CE. When you're done, just close the tab/window to return to this course page.

Exam Questions

All exam questions for the course are visible on this page for members of Impact CE.

Membership is free, and you can register today! You'll only pay when you're ready to purchase a course, or if you take advantage of the Unlimited Package.

If you're already a member, please sign in to see the exam questions for this and all other courses.

Enroll In This Course

Discuss this course

You can share your thoughts about this course after you pass the exam.

Sign In or Register to get started.
$13.50
Enroll In This Course

Course Details

1.5 CE Hours
Reading Online
Course 103331

Profession Group

  • Behavioral Health

Availability

This course is available until Sep 6th, 2033.

Frequently Asked Questions

Yes, most likely. Look Up Your State Board for more detailed information. Logged-in site members will see the relevant approval information displayed in the Approvals tab for every course.

If you are having trouble using Impact CE, please contact us! We would be happy to accommodate your needs right away, and your input will help us make Impact CE more accessible for future users too.

Use the Enroll In This Course button and just follow the instructions! You don't pay anything until you're ready to take an exam.

To complete the course, review the course objectives, then review the material, and then pass the exam with a score of 75% or greater and lastly complete an evaluation.

Most of our self-paced courses are based on online articles available for free to the public. Some courses, such as those based on books, require that you purchase the material. Use the Materials tab for more info. Live courses simply require that you attend.

Your certificate(s) will be available to download or email immediately when you pass the course exam and complete the evaluation.

Yes! Use the Help widget at the bottom-right of the screen anywhere on Impact CE to search our help docs, or to ask our support team for help. Unlike most of our competitors, Impact CE has live US-based support reps to help you by email, chat, or phone.

Start your CE Journey now - complete your first course today, on us.

Try for free - no commitment required.

Start a Free Trial Course

Continuing Education

Copyright © 2026 CE Learning Systems LLC

Please Confirm