title: Virtual reality graded exposure therapy with arousal control for the treatment of combat related posttraumatic stress disorder: a follow up case series.
abstract: Important challenges confronting DOD/military medical care are that of maintaining or increasing quality of care and increasing the effectiveness of treatments for warriors diagnosed with Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) secondary to their combat deployments to Iraq and/or Afghanistan. Virtual Reality Graded Exposure Therapy with Arousal Control (VR-GET) has demonstrated a positive treatment effectiveness resulting in significant reductions of PTSD symptom severity. This positive treatment effectiveness has been maintained for up to 22 weeks after VR-GET therapy was completed. A robust methodology for the assessment of Virtual Reality efficacy suggests that the ideal time for follow-up begins at twelve months. Others have suggested that follow-up should occur between two and four years post treatment. In this report we describe the outcome of VR-GET for the treatment of combat-related PTSD with three warriors between five and seven years following their having completed treatment.
authors.affiliation: Virtual Reality Medical Center, San Diego, CA.
authors.forename: Dennis Patrick
authors.initials: DP
authors.lastname: Wood
authors.affiliation: Department of Mental, Naval Medical Center San Diego, San Diego, CA.
authors.forename: Robert L
authors.initials: RL
authors.lastname: Mclay
authors.affiliation: Naval Center for Combat and Operational Stress Control, Naval Medical Center San Diego, San Diego, CA.
authors.forename: Jennifer
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Webb-Murphy
authors.affiliation: Virtual Reality Medical Center, San Diego, CA.
authors.forename: Mark D
authors.initials: MD
authors.lastname: Wiederhold
authors.affiliation: National Centers for PTSD, Honolulu, HI.
authors.forename: James L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Spira
authors.affiliation: Center for Mental Healthcare Outcomes Research, Central Arkansas Veterans Healthcare System, North Little Rock, AR.
authors.forename: Jeff M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Pyne
authors.affiliation: Virtual Reality Medical Center, San Diego, CA.
authors.forename: Brenda K
authors.initials: BK
authors.lastname: Wiederhold
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D055826:Afghan Campaign 2001-; D003194:Computer-Assisted Instruction; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007171:Implosive Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D054542:Iraq War, 2003-2011; D008875:Middle Aged; D008889:Military Personnel / Q000523:psychology*; D010353:Patient Education as Topic / Q000379:methods*; D013313:Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic / Q000628:therapy*; D014728:Veterans / Q000523:psychology*; D000076142:Virtual Reality; D014857:Warfare