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Journal of Contemporary Psychotherapy
Published in: Journal of Contemporary Psychotherapy 4/2015

01-12-2015 | Original Paper

Virtual Reality Exposure for PTSD Due to Military Combat and Terrorist Attacks

Authors: Albert Rizzo, Judith Cukor, Maryrose Gerardi, Stephanie Alley, Chris Reist, Mike Roy, Barbara O. Rothbaum, JoAnn Difede

Published in: Journal of Contemporary Psychotherapy | Issue 4/2015

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Abstract

Humans exposed to war and terrorist attacks are at risk for the development of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Numerous reports indicate that the incidence of PTSD in both returning Operation Enduring Freedom/Operation Iraqi Freedom (OEF/OIF) military personnel and survivors of the 9/11 World Trade Center (WTC) attacks is significant. These situations have served to motivate research on how to better develop and disseminate evidence-based treatments for PTSD and other related psychosocial conditions. Virtual reality (VR) delivered exposure therapy for PTSD is currently being used to treat combat and terrorist attack related PTSD with initial reports of positive outcomes. This paper presents an overview and rationale for the use of VR exposure therapy with anxiety disorders and PTSD and describes the status of two systems (Virtual Iraq/Afghanistan and Virtual World Trade Center) developed for this purpose.
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Metadata
Title
Virtual Reality Exposure for PTSD Due to Military Combat and Terrorist Attacks
Authors
Albert Rizzo
Judith Cukor
Maryrose Gerardi
Stephanie Alley
Chris Reist
Mike Roy
Barbara O. Rothbaum
JoAnn Difede
Publication date
01-12-2015
Publisher
Springer US
Published in
Journal of Contemporary Psychotherapy / Issue 4/2015
Print ISSN: 0022-0116
Electronic ISSN: 1573-3564
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1007/s10879-015-9306-3

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