Application of VR/AR technologies in in the comprehensive treatment of post-traumatic stress disorder
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.54359/ps.v18i103.1977Abstract
This review summarizes current evidence on the use of virtual and augmented reality (VR/AR) technologies in the comprehensive treatment of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). The neurophysiological mechanisms underlying VR/AR interventions are discussed, including modulation of amygdala, medial prefrontal cortex, and hippocampal activity, as well as effects on autonomic regulation. The review integrates findings from clinical studies, meta-analyses, and pilot trials demonstrating the efficacy of VR/AR interventions in reducing PTSD symptoms, improving treatment tolerability, and enhancing patient adherence. Particular attention is devoted to Russian developments, including the use of VR in the psychosocial rehabilitation of military personnel and the advancement of multimodal VR technologies. Finally, key barriers to the integration of VR/AR therapy into Russian clinical practice are identified, and promising directions for future research are outlined.
Downloads
References
Beidel D.C., Frueh B.C., Neer S.M., et al. Trauma management therapy with virtual-reality augmented exposure therapy for combat-related PTSD: a randomized controlled trial. J Anxiety Disord, 2019, No. 61:64–74. DOI:10.1016/j.janxdis.2017.08.005
Bukhtiyarov I.V., Glukhov D.V. Formirovanie posttravmaticheskikh stressovykh rasstroistv u voen-nosluzhashchikh v boevoi obstanovke. Meditsinskii trud i promyshlennaya ekologiya, 2018, No. 2. (in Russian)
Carl E., Stein A.T., Levihn-Coon A., et al. Virtual reality exposure therapy for anxiety and related disor-ders: A meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. J Anxiety Disord, 2019, No. 61, 27–36. DOI: 10.1016/j.janxdis.2018.08.003
Deng W., Hu D., Xu S., et al. The efficacy of virtual reality exposure therapy for PTSD symptoms: a systematic review and meta-analysis. J Affect Disord, 2019, No. 257, 698–709. DOI: 10.1016/j.jad.2019.07.086
Difede J., Cukor J., Jayasinghe N., et al. Virtual reality exposure therapy for the treatment of posttraumat-ic stress disorder following September 11, 2001. J Clin Psychiatry, 2007, No. 68(11), 1639–47.
Difede J., Cukor J., Patt I., et al. The application of virtual reality to the treatment of PTSD following the WTC attack. Ann N Y Acad Sci, 2006, No. 1071, 500–1. DOI: 10.1196/annals.1364.052
Gonçalves R., Pedrozo A.L., Coutinho E.S., et al. Efficacy of virtual reality exposure therapy in the treatment of PTSD: a systematic review. PLoS One, 2012, No. 7(12), e48469. DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0048469
Javanbakht A., Hinchey L., Gorski K., et al. Unreal that feels real: artificial intelligence-enhanced aug-mented reality for treating social and occupational dysfunction in post-traumatic stress disorder and anxie-ty disorders. Eur J Psychotraumatol, 2024, No. 15(1), 2418248. DOI: 10.1080/20008066.2024.2418248
Kessler R.C., Aguilar-Gaxiola S., Alonso J., Benjet C., Bromet E.J., Cardoso G., et al. Trauma and PTSD in the WHO world mental health surveys. Eur J Psychotraumatol, 2017, No. 8(sup5), 1353383. DOI:10.1080/20008198.2017.1353383
Koenen K.C., Ratanatharathorn A., Ng L., McLaughlin K.A., Bromet E.J., Stein D.J., et al. Posttraumatic stress disorder in the World Mental Health Surveys. Psychol Med, 2017, Oct, No. 47(13), 2260–74. DOI:10.1017/S0033291717000708
Kosonogov V.V., Efimov K.V., Rakhmankulova Z.K. Obzor psikhofiziologicheskikh issledovanii stressa s ispol'zovaniem VR. Zhurnal vysshei nervnoi deyatel'nosti im. I.P. Pavlova, 2022, No. 72(4), 472–486. (in Russian)
Maples-Keller J.L., Bunnell B.E., Kim S.J., et al. The Use of Virtual Reality Technology in the Treatment of Anxiety and Other Psychiatric Disorders. Harv Rev Psychiatry, 2017, No. 25(3), 103–13. DOI: 10.1097/HRP.0000000000000138
Molchanova E.S. Posttravmaticheskoe stressovoe i ostroe stressovoe rasstroistvo v formate DSM-V: vnesennye izmeneniya i prezhnie problemy. Meditsinskaya psikhologiya v Rossii, 2014, No. 6(1), 2. DOI:10.24411/2219-8245-2014-00006 (in Russian)
Raskind M.A., Peterson K., Williams T., et al. A trial of prazosin for combat trauma PTSD with night-mares in active-duty soldiers returned from Iraq and Afghanistan. American Journal of Psychiatry, 2013. DOI: 10.1176/appi.ajp.2013.12081133
Rauch S.L., Shin L.M., Phelps E.A. Neurocircuitry models of posttraumatic stress disorder and extinc-tion: human neuroimaging research-past, present, and future. Biol Psychiatry, 2006, No. 60(4), 376–82.
Reger G.M., Koenen-Woods P., Zetocha K., et al. Randomized controlled trial of prolonged exposure us-ing imaginal exposure vs. virtual reality exposure in active duty soldiers with deployment-related post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). J Consult Clin Psychol, 2016, No. 84(11), 946–59. DOI: 10.1037/ccp0000134
Richardson L.K., Frueh B.C., Acierno R. Prevalence estimates of combat-related post-traumatic stress disorder: critical review. Aust N Z J Psychiatry, 2010, No. 44(1), 4–19. DOI: 10.3109/00048670903393597
Rizzo A., Cukor J., Gerardi M., et al. Virtual reality exposure for PTSD due to military combat and ter-rorist attacks. J Contemp Psychother, 2015. DOI: 10.1007/s10879-015-9306-3
Rizzo A.S., Difede J., Rothbaum B.O., Reger G., Spitalnick J., Cukor J., McLay R. Development and early evaluation of the Virtual Iraq/Afghanistan exposure therapy system for combat-related PTSD. Ann N Y Acad Sci, 2010, Oct, No. 1208, 114–25. DOI: 10.1111/j.1749-6632.2010.05755.x
Rothbaum B.O., Hodges L.F., Ready D., et al. Virtual reality exposure therapy for Vietnam veterans with posttraumatic stress disorder. J Clin Psychiatry, 2001, No. 62(8), 617–22. DOI: 10.4088/jcp.v62n0808
Tan G., Dao T.K., Farmer L. Heart rate variability (HRV) and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD): A pilot study. Appl Psychophysiol Biofeedback, 2011, No. 36(1), 27–35.
Tsitsilin P.V. Mnogomodal'naya VR-terapiya pri PTSR: kontseptsiya i pilotnoe issledovanie. Vestnik nauki, 2025, No. 3, 84. (in Russian)
Downloads
Published
Issue
Section
License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License.
