What I was thinking/what I would do differently: Technology‐enabled traumatic stress support

Abstract

At the 39th meeting of the International Society of Traumatic Stress Studies, three leading researchers and clinicians in technology‐enabled traumatic stress support were invited to reflect on their careers and contributions to the field. Dr. Brian P. Marx has led the development of large‐scale technologies to screen, assess, and treat traumatic stress pathology across diverse etiologies and needs. Dr. Barbara O. Rothbaum, a pioneer in the development of virtual reality for exposure therapy, has demonstrated the efficacy and scalability of digital treatment for traumatic stress. Retired Col. Dr. Eric Vermetten has worked extensively on the intersection of basic mechanisms, novel psychological and biological treatment, and technology for scalable assessment and treatment, primarily in military and mass casualty contexts. The panelists were asked to reflect on their initial ambitions, concerns, unexpected challenges, and the influence of their work on new research trajectories. Their insights provide valuable lessons about the process and content of their work, and their pioneering efforts have significantly advanced the field of technology‐enabled traumatic stress support.