Army Looks to Virtual Reality to Better Treat PTSD

One hundred and fifty six active duty Army soldiers committed suicide in 2010, according to data released by the Army on Jan. 20, and post-traumatic stress disorder continues to be a major problem among the active duty and veteran populations. In an effort to combat PTSD,  48 Army healthcare sites now use virtual reality as an alternative treatment.

A trait of PTSD is avoidance, said Dr. Albert "Skip" Rizzo of University of Southern California's Institute for Creative Technologies (a university-affiliated research center, sponsored by the Army) during a press call on Jan. 25. Exposure therapy with the use of virtual environments can help troops gradually recall trauma rather than ignore it, he said.

The therapy may also serve to break down barriers to care, as a younger generation of patients shy away from the pressure of talk therapy and are more comfortable in a gaming environment, Rizzo added. The virtual environment now used for therapy builds upon the popular Xbox video game, "Full Spectrum Warrior," which was developed by the Army in 2004.