The efficacy of virtual reality exposure therapy (VRET) with extra intervention for treating PTSD symptoms

Abstract

In the current time, Virtual Reality (VR) technologies are improving rapidly. Virtual Reality (VR) allows the user to experience immersive environment that they can interact with through the creation of a 3D digital world. Many studies have explored the potential efficacy of using Virtual Reality (VR) as a form of exposure therapy to treat patients with mental health problems. In this paper, we explored the efficacy of using Virtual Reality Exposure Therapy (VRET) with other extra intervention (e.g., medicine, extra hardware, etc.) to treat patients diagnosed with PTSD. The result indicates that some extra intervention does influence the outcome by seeing the difference in CAPS score. The highest CAPS score difference of 17.7 is achieved by 3MDR which combines the use of VRET (Virtual Reality Exposure Therapy), EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) and walking on a treadmill.