[Prolonged Exposure Therapy for Post-traumatic Stress Disorder].

Prolonged exposure therapy (PE), a well-known trauma-focused cognitive behavioral treatment (TFCBT), is the most scientifically established treatment for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) among a variety of pharmacotherapies and psychotherapies. It is comprised of two types of exposure technique: imaginal exposure and in vivo exposure. This paper overviews a recent review of psychotherapies for adult chronic PTSD, the emotional processing theory and structure of PE, and the effectiveness and dissemination of PE in Japan.