Does Virtual Reality Increase Simulator Sickness During Exposure Therapy for Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder?

Area of Science:

• Psychology
• Virtual Reality Therapy
• Trauma Treatment

Background:

• Military personnel often experience trauma, necessitating effective therapeutic interventions.
• Virtual reality (VR) technology offers immersive environments for exposure therapy.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the use of Virtual Iraq/Afghanistan system for trauma memory engagement.
• To assess the impact of VR therapy on soldiers' subjective stress experiences.

Main Methods:

• Forty-nine soldiers utilized the Virtual Iraq/Afghanistan system.
• Participants engaged with their trauma memories within the VR environment.
• Subjective Stress Experience (SSE) was measured using a 4-item self-report scale post-session.

Main Results:

• Soldiers used the Virtual Iraq/Afghanistan system to engage with trauma memory.
• Subjective Stress Experience (SSE) was measured after each VR session.

Conclusions:

• The Virtual Iraq/Afghanistan system facilitated soldiers' engagement with trauma memory.
• VR therapy shows promise as a tool for processing traumatic experiences in military populations.