Researchers use virtual reality therapy successfully to help veterans with PTSD

03/25/2014 - 00:00


Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is common among military veterans and together with the often-related anxiety, depression, and psychological and emotional impairment can dramatically affect quality of life. A type of virtual reality (VR) treatment called Graded Exposure Therapy (GET) can improve PTSD symptoms and may also have a positive impact on these associated disorders, as described in an article in Cyberpsychology, Behavior, and Social Networking.

VR-GET helps sufferers of PTSD face their trauma-related fears rather than avoid them by exposing them to simulated stress-inducing events in a controlled, virtual reality environment, monitoring their physiologic responses, and providing training to develop coping skills.

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Ref: Effect of Virtual Reality PTSD Treatment on Mood and Neurocognitive Outcomes. Cyberpsychology, Behavior, and Social Networking (2014) | DOI: 10.1089/cyber.2013.0383