TY - JOUR
T1 - Virtual reality posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) exposure therapy results with active duty OIF/OEF service members
AU - Rizzo, Albert
AU - Reger, Greg
AU - Perlman, Karen
AU - Rothbaum, Barbara
AU - Difede, Joann
AU - McLay, Rob
AU - Graap, Ken
AU - Gahm, Greg
AU - Johnston, Scott
AU - Deal, Rob
AU - Pair, Jarrell
AU - Parsons, Thomas
AU - Roy, Mike
AU - Shilling, Russell
AU - Sharkey, Paul M.
N1 - Funding Information:
The University of Southern California ’s Institute for Creative Technologies (ICT), in collaboration with the authors of this paper, have partnered on a project funded by the Office of Naval Research (ONR), the US Army Research, Development and Engineering Command (RDECOM) and the Telemedicine and Advanced Technology Research Center (TATRC) to develop a series of VR exposure environments known as Virtual Iraq/Afghanistan. This VR treatment system was originally constructed by recycling virtual art assets that were initially designed for the commercially successful X-Box game and US Army-funded combat tactical simulation trainer, ull Spectrum Warrior. Other existing and newly created art and technology assets available to ICT have been integrated into this continually evolving application. The presence of ICT expertise in designing combat simulations and an interdisciplinary collaboration with leading experts and scientists in the field of PTSD, has led to the opportunity to apply VR for this relevant clinical challenge, albeit within a tighter timeframe than the technology allowed for Vietnam era veterans with PTSD.
PY - 2011/11
Y1 - 2011/11
N2 - Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is reported to be caused by exposure to traumatic events including (but not limited to) military combat, violent personal assault, being kidnapped or taken hostage and terrorist attacks. Initial data suggest that at least 1 out of 6 Iraq War veterans are exhibiting symptoms of depression, anxiety and PTSD. Virtual reality (VR) delivered exposure therapy for PTSD has been used with reports of positive outcomes. The aim of the current paper, is to present the rationale and brief description of a Virtual Iraq/Afghanistan PTSD VR therapy application and present initial findings from its use with PTSD patients. Thus far, Virtual Iraq/Afghanistan consists of a series of customizable virtual scenarios designed to represent relevant Middle Eastern VR contexts for exposure therapy, including a city and desert road convoy environment. User-centered design feedback, needed to iteratively evolve the system, was gathered from returning Iraq War veterans in the USA and from a system deployed in Iraq and tested by an Army Combat Stress Control Team. Results from an open clinical trial at San Diego Naval Medical Center of the first 20 treatment completers indicate that 16 no longer met PTSD screening criteria at post-treatment, with only one not maintaining treatment gains at 3 month follow-up.
AB - Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is reported to be caused by exposure to traumatic events including (but not limited to) military combat, violent personal assault, being kidnapped or taken hostage and terrorist attacks. Initial data suggest that at least 1 out of 6 Iraq War veterans are exhibiting symptoms of depression, anxiety and PTSD. Virtual reality (VR) delivered exposure therapy for PTSD has been used with reports of positive outcomes. The aim of the current paper, is to present the rationale and brief description of a Virtual Iraq/Afghanistan PTSD VR therapy application and present initial findings from its use with PTSD patients. Thus far, Virtual Iraq/Afghanistan consists of a series of customizable virtual scenarios designed to represent relevant Middle Eastern VR contexts for exposure therapy, including a city and desert road convoy environment. User-centered design feedback, needed to iteratively evolve the system, was gathered from returning Iraq War veterans in the USA and from a system deployed in Iraq and tested by an Army Combat Stress Control Team. Results from an open clinical trial at San Diego Naval Medical Center of the first 20 treatment completers indicate that 16 no longer met PTSD screening criteria at post-treatment, with only one not maintaining treatment gains at 3 month follow-up.
KW - Exposure therapy
KW - Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
KW - Virtual Afghanistan
KW - Virtual Iraq
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=84871408146&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1515/IJDHD.2011.060
DO - 10.1515/IJDHD.2011.060
M3 - Review article
AN - SCOPUS:84871408146
SN - 2191-0367
VL - 10
SP - 301
EP - 308
JO - International Journal on Disability and Human Development
JF - International Journal on Disability and Human Development
IS - 4
ER -