Complex Trauma

Complex trauma is the result of exposure to multiple traumatic events, things that have happened repeatedly, often of an invasive, interpersonal nature. This type of trauma often occurs within a particular time frame or within a specific relationship, and often in a specific setting. Examples include events that are severe and pervasive such as abuse or neglect, and carry wide-ranging, long-term effects.
Simple, or acute trauma, refers to one traumatic event that is definable, such as an assault.