Virtual Reality Therapy Controlled Study for War Veterans with PTSD. Preliminary Results

Area of Science:

• Psychiatry
• Psychology
• Virtual Reality Applications

Background:

• Approximately 20,000 Portuguese war veterans meet Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) diagnostic criteria over 30 years post-conflict.
• Traditional psychotherapy outcomes for veterans with PTSD are often unsatisfactory, necessitating novel treatment approaches.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the efficacy of Virtual Reality Exposure Therapy (VRET) as a treatment for PTSD in Portuguese war veterans.
• To compare VRET against traditional psychotherapy and a waiting list control group.

Main Methods:

• A controlled study involving VRET, traditional psychotherapy, and a waiting list.
• VRET condition: Gradual exposure to a virtual reality jungle scenario with specific traumatic cues (ambush, mortar blasting, rescue waiting).
• Exposure involves repeated sessions with increasing cue intensity and frequency via a Head Mounted Display (HMD).

Main Results:

• Preliminary analysis of 4 VRET patients showed no statistically significant differences in IES and SCL-90R scores from pre-treatment to mid-treatment (5th session).
• A significant decrease was observed in the obsession-compulsion dimension of the SCL-90R (p<.05).
• Descriptive analysis indicated a reduction in most IES and SCL-90R dimensions, excluding hostility and psychoticism.

Conclusions:

• While not statistically significant across all measures at mid-treatment, VRET demonstrated a reduction in obsessive thoughts.
• The study suggests VRET may be a viable therapeutic option for PTSD in war veterans, warranting further investigation.
• Ongoing research aims to confirm these preliminary findings and assess long-term outcomes.