Virtual Reality Exposure Therapy for the Treatment of Posttraumatic Stress Disorder: A Methodological Review Using CONSORT Guidelines

Abstract

Although preliminary findings suggest some positive results for VRET as a form of exposure treatment for PTSD, additional research using well-specified randomization procedures, assessor blinding, and monitoring of treatment adherence is warranted. Movement toward greater standardization of treatment manuals, virtual environments, and equipment would further facilitate interpretation and consolidation of this literature.

An adaptive virtual reality system for the treatment of adjustment disorder and complicated grief: 1‐year follow‐up efficacy data

“…These data agree with those obtained in previous studies (Andreu‐Mateu et al, ; Baños et al, ), and they confirm the usefulness of this psychological treatment protocol supported by VR for AD and CG. These results are also consistent with the conclusions reported by review studies on the efficacy of VR exposure therapy for the treatment of anxiety disorders: systematic reviews (Gregg & Tarrier, ; McCann et al, ; Meyerbroker & Emmelkamp, 2010) and meta‐analyses (Morina et al, ;Opriş et al, ; Parsons & Rizzo, ; Powers & Emmelkamp, ), and by meta‐analytic studies specifically addressing the use of VR for stress‐related disorders (Botella et al, ; Gonçalves et al, ; Motraghi et al, ). Finally, our results are also consistent with those obtained in studies on the traditional treatment for AD (Andrews, ; Araoz & Carrese, ; Benton & Lynch, ; Strain, ; Van der Klink et al, ) and CG (Neimeyer, ).…”

“…In the case of Opriş et al, ()and Morina, Ijntema, Meyerbrökerm, and Emmelkamp (), the authors also found that VR has a powerful real‐life impact, similar to that of the classical evidence‐based treatments and good stability in the results over time. Additionally, meta‐analyses and systematic reviews specifically addressed to stress‐related disorders (mainly PSD; Botella, Serrano, Baños, & García‐Palacios, ; Gonçalves, Pedrozo, Coutinho, Figueira, & Ventura, ; Motraghi, Seim, Meyer, & Morissette, ) have also shown the usefulness of VR environments for applying the exposure technique in treating these disorders. Finally, other exposure‐based approaches, such as EMDR, have also shown their efficacy in the treatment of distressful experiences that failed to meet the criteria for PTSD (Cvetek, ).…”

Interdisciplinary approaches to understand traumatic stress as a public health problem

“…additional reviews by Gonçalves, Pedrozo, Coutinho, Figueira, & Ventura, 2012;Motraghi, Seim, Meyer, & Morissette, 2014), focusing particularly on their own work in developing the BRAVEMIND VRET system. As Rizzo and Shilling note, although VR is not a particularly new technology, with initial demonstrations taking place as early as the 1980s, recent advances in both hardware and software have made possible increasingly life-like engagement with increasingly realistic simulated ecological environments.…”

Substance Use, Bullying, and Body Image Disturbances in Adolescents and Young Adults Under the Prism of a 3D Simulation Program: Validation of MySchool4web

“…That is why it is becoming more usual in psychology to use new technologies as tools for support throughout the process of evaluation and treatment of the different existing mental disorders. [8][9][10][11][12][13] Specifically, the use of virtual reality environments for the treatment of mental disorders has received the most attention by researchers. 11 However, there is still little existing research related to the study of the application of virtual reality in the field of evaluation, diagnosis, or screening of mental disorders in adolescents, as well as treatment and school settings.…”