Post-traumatic stress disorder treatment with virtual reality exposure for criminal violence: a case study in assault with violence

2011 ◽  
Vol 10 (4) ◽  
Author(s):  
Georgina Cárdenas-López ◽  
Anabel De la Rosa-Gómez
Keyword(s):  
Virtual Reality ◽  
Post Traumatic Stress Disorder ◽  
Traumatic Stress ◽  
Stress Disorder ◽  
Post Traumatic Stress ◽  
Criminal Violence ◽  
Post Traumatic ◽  
Disorder Treatment ◽  
Virtual Reality Exposure

scholarly journals Virtual Reality Exposure Therapy for Armed Forces Veterans with Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder: A Systematic Review and Focus Group

2022 ◽  
Vol 19 (1) ◽  
pp. 464
Author(s):  
Ana Vianez ◽  
António Marques ◽  
Raquel Simões de Almeida
Keyword(s):  
Virtual Reality ◽  
Focus Group ◽  
Post Traumatic Stress Disorder ◽  
Traumatic Stress ◽  
Stress Disorder ◽  
Armed Forces ◽  
Post Traumatic Stress ◽  
Virtual Reality Exposure Therapy ◽  
Post Traumatic ◽  
Virtual Reality Exposure

Virtual reality exposure therapy (VRET) is an emerging treatment for people diagnosed with Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) due to the limited accessibility of psychotherapies. This research aims to determine the guidelines for developing a Virtual Reality–War Scenario program for Armed Forces veterans with PTSD and encompasses two studies: Study 1, a systematic electronic database review; Study 2, a focus group of twenty-two Portuguese Armed Forces veterans. Results showed a positive impact of VRET on PTSD; however, there were no group differences in most of the studies. Further, according to veterans, new VRET programs should be combined with the traditional therapy and must consider as requirements the sense of presence, dynamic scenarios, realistic feeling, and multisensorial experience. Regardless, these findings suggest VRET as a co-creation process, which requires more controlled, personalized, and in-depth research on its clinical applicability.

scholarly journals Action-Centered Exposure Therapy (ACET): A New Approach to the Use of Virtual Reality to the Care of People with Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder

2018 ◽  
Vol 8 (8) ◽  
pp. 76 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sorelle Kamkuimo Kengne ◽  
Mathilde Fossaert ◽  
Benoît Girard ◽  
Bob-Antoine Menelas
Keyword(s):  
Virtual Reality ◽  
Post Traumatic Stress Disorder ◽  
Traumatic Stress ◽  
Stress Disorder ◽  
Exposure Therapy ◽  
Systemic Exposure ◽  
Learning Theories ◽  
Post Traumatic Stress ◽  
Post Traumatic

Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) can be seen as the result of dysfunctional beliefs that associate stimuli with a danger or a threat leading to anxious reactions. Exposure therapy is so far considered to be the most effective treatment, and research suggests that it is mainly based on a habituation process. Based on learning theories, it appears that a passive systemic exposure to traumatic stimuli should not be the best option for the treatment of PTSD. We hypothesis that an active learning of safer and healthier coping strategies combined with systematic exposure should be more effective in reducing the psychological distress associated with PTSD. In this paper, we describe the theoretical foundations of this approach that focuses on the action and activity of the patient in his or her exposure environment. In this approach, we take advantage of Virtual Reality technologies and learning mechanics of serious games to allow the patient to learn new safe associations while promoting the empowerment. We named this action-centered exposure therapy (ACET). This approach exploits behaviorism, cognitivism, and constructivism learning theories. With the different benefits of virtual reality technologies, this approach would easily integrate with in-virtuo exposure therapy and would allow us to exploit as much as possible the enormous potential of these technologies. As a first step toward validation, we present a case study that supports the ACET approach.

scholarly journals Virtual Reality Exposure Therapy and Military Personnel with Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder: A Systematic Review

2019 ◽  
Vol 63 (1) ◽  
pp. 1378-1383
Author(s):  
Simar Singh ◽  
Dan Nathan-Roberts
Keyword(s):  
Systematic Review ◽  
Virtual Reality ◽  
Post Traumatic Stress Disorder ◽  
Traumatic Stress ◽  
Stress Disorder ◽  
Exposure Therapy ◽  
Post Traumatic Stress ◽  
Post Traumatic ◽  
Clinically Significant ◽  
Virtual Reality Exposure

This systematic review determines the efficacy of virtual reality (VR) therapy for veterans and active service members with combat related post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and identifies common themes among studies utilizing VR. A total of 222 articles were initially considered for this systematic review, and the inclusion and exclusion criteria left 14 articles to be analyzed. A statistically significant or clinically significant reduction in PTSD scores was reported in 64% of the articles after the use of a VR-based therapy. However, no articles provided evidence for VR therapy being statistically better than other forms of therapy in treating PTSD. VR exposure therapy was used in 71% of the studies, making it the most commonly used form of VR therapy, followed by VR graded exposure therapy at 21% and VRET-arousal control at 7%. Limitations and future studies are also discussed.

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