VIRTUAL REALITY EXPOSURE THERAPY (VRET) IS IMPROVING VETERAN MENTAL HEALTH


By bblouin
Dr. Michael J. Roy, who oversees the "Virtual Iraq" exposure therapy at Walter Reed Army Medical Center, conducts a demonstration of a life-like virtual reality exposure therapy simulator that represents a new form of post-traumatic stress disorder treatment.

Advancements in medicine continue to push new innovations and reworked ideas to improve mental and physical healthcare. Our nation’s Veterans sacrifice their overall well-being for all of us and deserve access to the best treatments available. While virtual reality exposure therapy (VRET) isn’t exactly new, the idea is getting some traction. VR exposure therapy has the potential to help Veterans with mental health issues heal in gradual, immersive ways like never before.

What Is Virtual Reality Exposure Therapy?

Virtual reality exposure therapy is a combination of using the technology found in VR with a psychological approach to therapy. Devices immerse patients in a controlled manner to help them face their fears and overcome a variety of mental issues. VRET is for people suffering from anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), traumatic brain injury (TBI), obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), specific individual fears, and much more. The exciting thing about VR exposure therapy effectiveness is that the science behind the treatment continues to show promise, including use within the Veteran community.

VRET Shows Encouraging Signs Despite Lack of Use

There is still a bit of resistance in healthcare to the use of virtual reality exposure therapy, which is a shame because studies continue to show promise in its application for patients. One of the core reasons VR exposure therapy software has not been fully adopted is the fact that the initial costs are not always the cheapest. Depending on your budget the hardware and software can come with an unwanted price tag for both healthcare professionals and patients. Additionally, the overall adoption of VR hasn’t been overwhelming as a whole. This combined with a lack of awareness of VRET as an option is hindering access to the healthcare service. However, VR for exposure therapy has already proved effective against anxiety disorder. The use of virtual reality is a great way to introduce exposure therapy to patients in a way that is controlled. This is because traditional methods have obstacles that can hinder treatment. As a scalable tool showing initial success, virtual reality exposure therapy remains a recommended option by experts to help with mental health issues in patients. For these reasons, medical experts continue to call for increased education on applying VRET for patients, including Veterans suffering from mental health disorders.

Mynd Immersive, VA Pushing Forward with Virtual Reality Exposure Therapy

A collaboration between Mynd Immersive from Plano, Texas, and the VA is bringing virtual reality exposure therapy to Veterans to help with trauma. Specifically, the program is helping Vietnam Veterans. The app got clearance from the VA's Office of Healthcare Innovation and Learning. Additionally, it brings Vets to locations they may have been serving in virtually in the hopes of finding healing. Known as "a path to peace," the program targets Veterans who are 75 years of age and older. By using VRET, Veterans can be transported into realistic settings in a controlled environment, and they receive mental healthcare. The app used by Mynd Immersive and the VA offers multiple realistic, spherical VR experiences using hardware that looks like oversized sunglasses. It's a three-dimensional environment that takes place in a variety of places. Additional locations are peaceful locales within Vietnam. However, this is not the first time VR exposure therapy has been used for the military community. Leading expert Dr. Skip Rizzo is a part of the project. He has decades of experience with VR and has been involved in utilizing the technology for Vets in Afghanistan and Iraq. During Dr. Rizzo’s 2004 applications, the idea was to expose Veterans to potentially triggering events gradually and in a controlled environment. Around 100 long-term Veteran care facilities in the U.S. use some form of virtual reality exposure therapy. Finally, the hope is that expansion will continue helping the community. Related reads:

Sources: 'Using Virtual Reality Exposure Therapy to Enhance Treatment'…,NLM. Accessed September 2024. 'VR therapy takes veterans back to 'virtual Vietnam'...,Mynd Immersive. Accessed September 2024.


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