Effects of an Online Imagery-Based Treatment Program in Patients with Workplace-Related Posttraumatic Stress Disorder: A Pilot Study.
- Author:
Won Joon LEE
1
;
Soo Hee CHOI
;
Jung Eun SHIN
;
Chang Young OH
;
Na Hyun HA
;
Ul Soon LEE
;
Yoonji Irene LEE
;
Yoobin CHOI
;
Saerom LEE
;
Joon Hwan JANG
;
Yun Chul HONG
;
Do Hyung KANG
Author Information
- Publication Type:Original Article
- Keywords: Posttraumatic stress disorder; Imagery-based treatment; Workplace injury
- MeSH: Anxiety; Anxiety Disorders; Humans; Music; Pilot Projects*; Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic*
- From:Psychiatry Investigation 2018;15(11):1071-1078
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:English
- Abstract: OBJECTIVE: We developed easily accessible imagery-based treatment program for patients with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) related to workplace accidents and investigated the effects of the program on various PTSD related symptoms. METHODS: The program was based on an online platform and consisted of eight 15-min sessions that included script-guided imagery and supportive music. Thirty-five patients with workplace-related PTSD participated in this program 4 days per week for 4 weeks. Its effects were examined using self-report questionnaires before and after the take-home online treatment sessions. RESULTS: After completing the 4-week treatment program, patients showed significant improvements in depressed mood (t=3.642, p=0.001) based on the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9), anxiety (t=3.198, p=0.003) based on the Generalized Anxiety Disorder seven-item (GAD-7) scale, and PTSD symptoms (t=5.363, p < 0.001) based on the Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Check List (PCL). In particular, patients with adverse childhood experiences exhibited a greater degree of relief related to anxiety and PTSD symptoms than those without adverse childhood experiences. CONCLUSION: The present results demonstrated that the relatively short online imagery-based treatment program developed for this study had beneficial effects for patients with workplace-related PTSD.
