PTSD and complex PTSD manifestations in Sub-Saharan Africa: A systematic review of qualitative literature

Complex post-traumatic stress disorder (CPTSD) was introduced in the ICD-11 as a new diagnosis and was framed in accordance with WHO guidelines of clinical utility and cross-cultural applicability. CPTSD diagnosis comprises PTSD symptoms in addition to specific symptoms related to the organization of the self (DSO). Cross-cultural validity of the DSO symptoms is still being debated as cultural norms significantly influence how individuals perceive themselves and manage their emotions and relationships. The aim of this systematic review was to understand how PTSD and DSO symptoms were experienced and expressed by individuals from Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) by exploring qualitative literature. Searches were conducted on nine databases using search terms for countries, methods, symptoms, and trauma exposure. Fifty studies were included. Results confirmed the presence of the three DSO clusters. However, their manifestation differed significantly from the defined diagnostic criteria, highlighting the importance of considering cultural factors in the diagnostic process. Additionally, the review indicated that structural factors played significant roles in shaping the interpretation of trauma-related distress in this cultural context. Thus, we propose to create and implement a cultural module as an add on to the actual CPTSD assessment tools to account for cultural and structural variations in the SSA population and improve diagnosis accuracy. In this perspective, more emic research is needed to gain a deeper understanding of how trauma-related distress is perceived, experienced, and interpreted in SSA. •ICD-11 PTSD and CPTSD symptom clusters are present in Sub-Saharan Africa.•There are cultural variations in the expression of CPTSD symptoms.•Cultural scripts provide valuable insight into how trauma-related distress is expressed.•Structural factors should be investigated when formulating a CPTSD diagnosis.•Cultural modules should be implemented as add-ons to the actual diagnostic tools.