According to the US Department of Veteran’s Affairs about 11 out of every 100 veterans who served in Operations Iraqi Freedom and Enduring Freedom have PTSD in a given year as well as about 12 out of every 100 veterans who served in Desert Storm.
To help our American heroes, medical professionals and VA hospitals are turning to virtual reality to help heal them through gradual exposure therapy. At the University of Southern California Institute for Creative Technologies, Bravemind is a virtual reality exposure therapy system has shown to reduce symptoms of PTSD with veterans. Guided by a therapist, the patient is taken through virtual scenarios that resemble their experience in Afghanastan or Iraq, in order to help them process their traumatic memory and talk through their fears and anxiety. To date, Bravemind has been distributed to over 60 sites including VA hospitals, military bases and university centers.
At the Miami VA hospital, they are combining traditional treatments with gradual exposure therapy through VR and have help their patients alter their perception and response to symptoms of PTSD, primarily depression, isolation and anxiety. During their VR session, the patient will be connected to a VR system that includes video goggles, a plastic M-4 rifle, remote control to a virtual Humvee and a chair. During the 30-60 minute session, patients are asked to discuss how they are feeling and recount their memory. These VR sessions can be intense and they make sure to process their experience before they leave the session, Slone-Fama said. While a few years ago virtual reality systems would run in the $30,000 to $40,000 range, with the advancements and the ability to purchase VR goggles for under $200, VR systems could easily become more affordable for healthcare systems to implement into their treatment options.
If you or someone you know is a Veteran suffering from PTSD, please contact Veterans Resource Center of America and please reach out for help. Photos courtesy of USC Institute for Creative Technologies
