title: Expansion of a VR Exposure Therapy System for Combat-Related PTSD to Medics/Corpsman and Persons Following Military Sexual Trauma.
abstract: The stressful experiences that have been characteristic of the combat environments in Iraq and Afghanistan have produced significant numbers of returning service members at risk for developing posttraumatic stress disorder and other psychosocial/behavioral health conditions. This paper describes a set of projects that are expanding the content for inclusion in a newly updated "Virtual Iraq/Afghanistan" Virtual Reality system for the delivery of exposure therapy (VRET) for PTSD with Service Members and Veterans. In addition to the complete rebuilding of this VRET system using the latest version of the Unity Game Engine, the system's content and functionality has been expanded to now support the use of VRET with combat medics/corpsmen and persons who have experienced military sexual trauma (MST). The focus of this paper is to present the rationale and general overview of the progress on these projects that will provide new relevant and customizable options for conducting VRET with a wider range of trauma experiences.
authors.affiliation: University of Southern California, Institute for Creative Technologies.
authors.forename: Albert
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Rizzo
authors.affiliation: University of Southern California, Institute for Creative Technologies.
authors.forename: Arno
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Hartholt
authors.affiliation: Emory University.
authors.forename: Barbara
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Rothbaum
authors.affiliation: Weill Medical College of Cornell University.
authors.forename: Joann
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Difede
authors.affiliation: Long Beach VA Healthcare System.
authors.forename: Chris
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Reist
authors.affiliation: University of Southern California, Institute for Creative Technologies.
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Kwok
authors.affiliation: University of Southern California, Institute for Creative Technologies.
authors.forename: Andrew
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Leeds
authors.affiliation: Emory University.
authors.forename: Josh
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Spitalnick
authors.affiliation: University of Southern California, Institute for Creative Technologies.
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Talbot
authors.affiliation: Long Beach VA Healthcare System.
authors.forename: Todd
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Adamson
authors.affiliation: University of Southern California, Institute for Creative Technologies.
authors.forename: J Galen
authors.initials: JG
authors.lastname: Buckwalter
mesh_terms: D055826:Afghan Campaign 2001-; D006801:Humans; D054542:Iraq War, 2003-2011; D008889:Military Personnel; D000067073:Psychological Trauma / Q000628:therapy*; D012742:Sex Offenses / Q000523:psychology*; D013313:Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic / Q000628:therapy*; D014481:United States; D014728:Veterans; D063367:Virtual Reality Exposure Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D014857:Warfare