In 1982, only two years after the introduction of Post-traumatic Stress disorder into the diagnostic manual of the American Psychiatric Association, I developed Prolonged Exposure (PE) therapy for PTSD in response to the urgent need of providing effective treatments for this devastating and debilitating disorder.
Over the last two decades, numerous studies conducted around the world have lent support for the efficiency and effectiveness of PE and have helped to refine the treatment program. PE is now recognized as the most evidence-based treatment for PTSD by several institutions as well as academic committees including The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), Veterans Administration Hospitals, and Institute of Medicine and has been implemented around the world. The knowledge accumulated over the years through research and clinical experience has culminated in the publication of two books by Oxford University Press: prolonged Exposure Therapy for PTSD, Emotional processing of Traumatic Experiences: Therapist Guide, and Reclaiming your life from a traumatic experience: Client Workbook. These books contain detailed procedures of PE to be used for evaluating and treating clients with Post-traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD).
In 2005, Dr. Cho visited our clinic at the University of Pennsylvania and shared his experience from Korea where many trauma victims were not being treated effectively and often were stigmatized as having a personality defect or as being seriously mentally ill. These individuals included victims of sexual assault, child abuse, school violence, torture and human rights violations. Later, Dr. Cho invited me to conduct an Intensive prolonged Exposure Workshop for the professionals in Korea. I accepted his invitation with enthusiasm because one of my professional missions is to educate and train mental health professionals on how to help PTSD sufferers via evidence-based treatments, primarily PE. I am glad that Dr. Cho translated the two manuals of PE into Korean. I hope that these manuals will help clinicians implement PE successfully with their clients.
Dr. Cho and his staff at the Tree Group have dedicated their time and energy to perfectly translating my English version of the PE books. I am sure that they encountered many hurdles in the process of translating the books, which they overcame to successfully complete the translation. I am very grateful to Dr. Cho for his dedication and his genuine interest in helping and treating the victims of PTSD in Korea. I hope the Korean readers will benefit from these books.
Edna B. Foa
