Abstract

The aims of this study were to investigate the incidence of posttraumatic stress disorder(PTSD), effects of accident on driving/riding behavior, to identify psychosocial risk factors affecting the severity of PTSD symptoms. Motor Vehicle Accident Interview, Clinician Administrated PTSD Scale, Impact of Event Scale, Beck Depression Inventory, State-Trait Anxiety Scale, State-Trait Anger Scale, The Ways of Coping Checklist, Abbreviated Physical Injury Scale and Social Support Scale were administered to 47 undergraduates victims who experienced the same bus accident. The major results of study were as follows. First, the incidence of full PTSD and subsyndromal PTSD were 27.7% and 38.3%. The victims who were classified as full and subsydromal PTSD showed significantly severe riding avoidant behaviors than victims who were classified as normal. Second, the victims who were classified as full PTSD and subsyndromal PTSD were significantly more likely to have experienced a prior moto vehicle accident, to have perceived severer danger feeling during the accident than victims who were classified as normal. Third, the victims who were classified as full and subsyndromal PTSD showed significantly severer depression, anxiety and negligent guilt, derealization and decrease of awareness than victims who were classified as normal. Forth, the victims who were classified as full and subsyndromal PTSD were significantly evaluated lower possibility of returning to pre-accident functioning and to have used more passive coping mechanism than victims who were classified as normal. And the victims who were classified as full PTSD showed significantly lower present functioning and severe riding vulnerability than victims who were classified as normal, these results suggested to need quick therapeutic intervention for the victims who were classified as full and subsyndromal PTSD. The limitation of this study and cognitive-behavioral psychotherapeutic implications were discussed.