Virtual Reality Exposure Therapy for Combat-Related Posttraumatic Stress Disorder

Virtual reality (VR) technology is rapidly evolving to support prolonged exposure (PE) therapy, a proven treatment for combat-related posttraumatic stress disorder. Building on the successful 2007 Virtual Iraq/Afghanistan VRET system, a team of behavioral scientists, software engineers, and virtual artists has created Bravemind, a flexible VR system that offers significantly enhanced PE treatment possibilities. The first Web extra at http://youtu.be/EiYg-kMNMtQ is a video demonstration of an original early virtual reality exposure therapy (VRET) prototype that shows a small section of an Iraqi city with a landing helicopter (2004). The second Web extra at http://youtu.be/_cS-ynWZmeQ is a video demonstration of virtual reality exposure therapy (VRET) that simulates driving a Humvee in a rural part of Iraq, showcasing several encounters, including IED and road-side attacks (2007). The third Web extra at http://youtu.be/78QXX_F4mc8 is a video demonstration of virtual reality exposure therapy (VRET) that simulates an overview of several Iraqi city areas (2007). The fourth Web extra at http://youtu.be/_AnixslkVLU is a video demonstration of virtual reality exposure therapy (VRET) that simulates a patrol entering interior buildings in Iraq (2007). The fifth Web extra at http://youtu.be/S22aQ-DqKKU is a video demonstration of an original virtual reality exposure therapy (VRET) tablet interface that allows the clinician to change virtual reality settings and trigger encounters (2007). The sixth Web extra at http://youtu.be/C-fspuLo4vw is a video demonstration of the Bravemind virtual reality exposure therapy (VRET) prototype showing a variety of driving and dismounted scenarios with encounters in Iraq and Afghanistan (2013). The sixth Web extra at http://youtu.be/HSPDomDAigg is a video collection of Iraqi and Afghanistan virtual reality exposure therapy (VRET) scenarios within the Bravemind prototype (2013).