Two Cases of Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Caused by a Motor Vehicle Accident Treated with Virtual Reality Exposure Therapy

Ju-Wan Kim, Min Jhon, Hee-Ju Kang, Sung-Wan Kim, Jae-Min Kim

Department of Psychiatry, Chonnam National University Medical School, Gwangju, Korea

Correspondence to: Sung-Wan Kim
Department of Psychiatry, Chonnam National University Medical School, 160 Baekseo-ro, Dong-gu, Gwangju 61469, Korea
E-mail: swkim@chonnam.ac.kr
ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6739-2163

Jae-Min Kim
Department of Psychiatry, Chonnam National University Medical School, 160 Baekseo-ro, Dong-gu, Gwangju 61469, Korea
E-mail: jmkim@chonnam.ac.kr
ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7409-6306

Received: October 20, 2022; Revised: November 7, 2022; Accepted: November 9, 2022; Published online: May 22, 2023.

Abstract: Exposure-response prevention is an effective approach to treat anxiety disorders. Virtual reality exposure therapy (VRET) is a promising treatment for patients with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). New research has helped refine and update VRET. In this study, we introduce a form of VRET developed for patients suffering from PTSD after a traffic accident, and present two cases treated using this protocol. After 6 weeks of VRET treatment, the two participants not only improved their PTSD symptoms, but also improved their depressed mood, anxiety, and insomnia symptoms. Future studies of VRET for car accident-related PTSD should utilize a controlled design with randomization in order to account for numerous possible confounds.; Keywords: Virtual reality exposure therapy; PTSD; Traffic accidents

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