Transcending Self Therapy-Virtual Reality (TST-VR) and Substance Use Disorder (SUD) Treatment Completion in Veterans

Area of Science:

• Clinical Psychology
• Behavioral Health
• Digital Therapeutics

Background:

• Substance Use Disorders (SUD) represent a significant public health challenge.
• Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) approaches, like Transcending Self Therapy (TST), are established treatments for SUD.
• Virtual Reality (VR) offers immersive potential for mental health interventions, but its role in SUD treatment beyond cue-conditioning is underexplored.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the association between engagement with a VR-enhanced TST program and residential SUD treatment completion.
• To evaluate the feasibility and impact of VR technology as an adjunct in SUD treatment for military veterans.

Main Methods:

• A program evaluation was conducted with 51 military veterans in residential SUD treatment.
• Participants were offered access to a VR headset delivering TST-based psychoeducation and therapeutic activities.
• Treatment completion rates were compared between veterans who opted for VR (n=36) and those who did not (n=15).

Main Results:

• Veterans who chose to engage with the VR-enhanced TST program demonstrated significantly higher treatment completion rates (86.1%) compared to those who did not (60.0%; p=0.039).
• Acceptance of the VR program and associated training correlated with improved treatment completion.

Conclusions:

• VR-based reinforcement of TST concepts may enhance the treatment experience and motivation for change in individuals with SUD.
• Findings suggest that patient motivation to engage with novel technologies like VR may be linked to overall treatment adherence and completion.
• Further research is warranted to elucidate the mechanisms driving these positive associations and optimize VR applications in SUD treatment.