The use of virtual reality in the treatment of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD)

Abstract

Background. Interest in the treatment of PTSD is increasing with concerns about the psychological effects of war on troops. Objective. We performed a comprehensive literature review on virtual reality (VR) for treating combat-related PTSD. Methods. Canada's primary institute for scientific and technical information (NRC-CISTI) performed the initial literature search in 2008. Of 296 items which met inclusion criteria, 20 pertained to VR in the treatment of mental health. An additional 20 more recent items were added in 2009, making a total of 40 items reviewed. Of those, 6 empirical studies involved patients with PTSD [1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6]. Results. VR exposure therapy (VRET) has been successfully used to treat anxiety and phobia disorders including PTSD [7, 8]. VRET may be particularly suitable for clients with combat-related PTSD as it aids in exposure treatments for these clients whom are often unable to engage in traditional therapy [9, 10]. Future research should include randomized, controlled studies employing large samples. © 2009 Springer Berlin Heidelberg.