A Virtual Reality Exposure Therapy Application for Iraq War Post Traumatic Stress Disorder

Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is reported to be caused by traumatic events that are outside the range of usual human experiences, including (but not limited to) military combat, violent personal assault, being kidnapped or taken hostage, and terrorist attacks. Initial data suggests that 1 out of 6 Iraqi War veterans are exhibiting symptoms of depression, anxiety, and PTSD. Virtual Reality (VR) exposure treatment has been used in previous treatments of PTSD patients with reports of positive outcomes. The aim of the current paper is to present the rationale, technical specifications, application features, and user-centered design process for the development of a Virtual Iraq PTSD VR therapy application. The VR treatment environment is being created via the recycling of virtual graphic assets that were initially built for the U.S. Army-funded combat tactical simulation scenario and commercially successful X-Box game, Full Spectrum Warrior, in addition to other available and newly created assets. Thus far, the authors have created a series of customizable virtual scenarios designed to represent relevant contexts for exposure therapy to be conducted in VR, including a city and a desert road convoy environment. User-Centered tests with the application are currently underway at the Naval Medical Center, San Diego, and within an Army Combat Stress Control Team in Iraq, with clinical trials scheduled to commence in February 2006. Prepared in cooperation with Virtually Better, Inc., Decatur, GA, and the United States Army, 98th Med Det (CSC), Tallil AB, LSA Adder, Iraq. Pub. in the IEEE Virtual Reality 2006 Proceedings, p64-71, 2006.