对在伊拉克和阿富汗服役的现役军人创伤后应激障碍的虚拟现实暴露疗法的开发和测试
Development and Testing of Virtual Reality Exposure Therapy for Post- Traumatic Stress Disorder in Active Duty Service Members Who Served in Iraq and Afghanistan
关键词:医药;治疗技术;应激障碍;暴露疗法
摘 要:This study was an open-label, single-group, treatment-development project aimed at developing and testing a method for applying virtual reality exposure therapy (VRET) to active duty service members diagnosed with combat post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Forty-two service members with PTSD were enrolled, and 20 participants completed treatment. The PTSD Checklist-Military version, Patient Health Questionnaire-9 for depression, and the Beck Anxiety Inventory were used as outcome measures. Of those who completed post-treatment assessment, 75had experienced at least a 50reduction in PTSD symptoms and no longer met DSM-IV criteria for PTSD at post treatment. Average PSTD scores decreased by 50.4, depression scores by 46.6, and anxiety scores by 36. Intention-to-treat analyses showed that statistically significant improvements in PTSD, depression, and anxiety occurred over the course of treatment and were maintained at follow up. There were no adverse events associated with VRET treatment. This study provides preliminary support for the use of VRET in combat-related PTSD. Further study will be needed to determine the wider utility of the method and to determine if it offers advantages over other established PTSD treatment modalities.