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Virtual Iraq - VR Based Therapy for Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder
Virtually Better
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Developed by Virtually Better, with funding from the
Naval Research Office, “Virtual Iraq” VR environment suitable for
therapy of anxiety disorders resulting from the high-stress
environment. The treatment involves exposing the patient to a
virtual environment containing the feared situation rather than
taking the patient into the actual environment or having the patient
imagine the stimulus. The virtual environment is controlled by the
therapist through a computer keyboard ensuring full control of the
exposure to the programmed situations.
The system designed to treat military veterans suffering from
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). Using components from the
popular game Full Spectrum Warrior, psychologist Skip Rizzo and his
colleagues introduce the patient to a virtual world simulating the
sources of combat stress. The treatment objective is to help
veterans come to terms with what they've experienced in places like
Iraq and Afghanistan by immersing vets in the sights and sounds of
those theaters of battle, including visual and sound effects of of
gunshots. Virtual reality exposure treatment allows the therapist to
manipulate situations to best suit the individual patient during a
standard therapy hour (usually 45-50 minutes) and within the
confines of the therapist's office. By gradually re-introducing the
patients to the experiences that triggered the trauma, the memory
becomes tolerable. Early results from trials suggest virtual reality
therapy is uniquely suited to a generation raised on video games.
Virtually Better is using eMagin’s Z800
3DVisor as the medium for delivering the VR exposure, delivering
3D stereovision and sound. Virtually Better applications currently
include Virtual Iraq, Virtual Airplane, Virtual Audiences, Virtual
Heights, Virtual Storm, and Virtual Vietnam.
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