Anxiety disorders due to motor vehicle accidents: Nature and treatment

In this article we review the clinical features, etiologic theories, incidence, and treatment of the three most common anxiety disorders to arise from motor vehicle accidents (MVAs): Accident phobia, posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and partial PTSD. These disorders have been neglected by researchers and often overlooked by clinicians, even though they are common, distressing, and sometimes debilitating. Accident phobia is clinically distinguishable from full- and partial-PTSD, although alt three disorders have etiologic factors in common. Treatments for these disorders also share many similarities. Case studies and uncontrolled clinical trials suggest that behavioral interventions are effective, and that cognitive restructuring may be a useful adjunct. Although these findings need to be replicated in controlled studies, they offer some guidelines as to the type and amount of treatment required for clinically severe MVA-induced anxiety disorders. We conclude by considering important directions for further investigation.