Virtual reality therapy: Difference between revisions
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'''Virtual reality therapy''' (VRT), also known as '''virtual reality exposure therapy''' (VRET), is a method of [[psychotherapy]] that uses [[virtual reality]] technology to treat patients with [[anxiety disorder]]s, [[post traumatic stress disorder]], and several other medical [[phobia]]s. New technology also allows for the treatment of [[Substance dependence|addictions]]. |
'''Virtual reality therapy''' (VRT), also known as '''virtual reality exposure therapy''' (VRET), is a method of [[psychotherapy]] that uses [[virtual reality]] technology to treat patients with [[anxiety disorder]]s, [[post traumatic stress disorder]], and several other medical [[phobia]]s. New technology also allows for the treatment of [[Substance dependence|addictions]]. |
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Virtual Reality Therapy (VRT) uses specially programmed computers, visual immersion devices and artificially created environments to give the patient a simulated experience that can be used to diagnose and treat psychological conditions that cause patients difficulty. Since reaction to the hazards of the environment, such as heights, speaking in public, flying, close spaces, and the like are usually triggered by visual and auditory stimuli, VRT is a means to reproduce or simulate such stimuli so the psychologist or psychiatrist can observe and measure the patient's reaction, and provide appropriate treatment. Such treatment may involve adjusting the virtual environment, determining the triggers for each patient's reaction, or replaying virtual scenes to habituate the patient to such environments. VRT has the great advantage that while the patient experiences the perceived "dangerous" stimuli, the patient knows he or she is actually quite safe in a VRT lab. This allows the patient to confront situations and achieve virtual victories that build self efficacy and the confidence that comes from mastering situations that the patient previously could not confront in real life, and through therapy learn to change behavior so as to eventually confront such situations in real life more successfully. |
Virtual Reality Therapy (VRT) uses specially programmed computers, visual immersion devices and artificially created environments to give the patient a simulated experience that can be used to diagnose and treat psychological conditions that cause patients difficulty. Since reaction to the hazards of the environment, such as heights, speaking in public, flying, close spaces, and the like are usually triggered by visual and auditory stimuli, VRT is a means to reproduce or simulate such stimuli so the psychologist or psychiatrist can observe and measure the patient's reaction, and provide appropriate treatment. Such treatment may involve adjusting the virtual environment, determining the triggers for each patient's reaction, or replaying virtual scenes to habituate the patient to such environments. VRT has the great advantage that while the patient experiences the perceived "dangerous" stimuli, the patient knows he or she is actually quite safe in a VRT lab. This allows the patient to confront situations and achieve virtual victories that build self efficacy and the confidence that comes from mastering situations that the patient previously could not confront in real life, and through therapy learn to change behavior so as to eventually confront such situations in real life more successfully. VRT has great promise since it historically produces a "cure" about 90% of the time at about half the cost of traditional cognitive behavior therapy, and is especially promising as a treatment for PTSD where there are simply not enough psychologists and psychiatrists to treat all the veterans with anxiety disorders diagnosed as related to their military service. |
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VRT was independently developed by '''DR RALPH LAMSON''' a USC graduate and clinical psychologist at Kaiser Permanente, San Rafael, CA. and by '''DR. MAX NORTH''' a computer scientist from Iran, as part of his doctoral studies at Clark Atlanta University in Atlanta, GA. Dr.Lamson first published his work in 1993 and, as a psychologist, was most concerned with the medical and therapeutic aspects, that is, how to treat people using the technology. Dr. Lamson has, since the start, found the treatment to be successful in about 90% of his VIRTIGO(TM)virtual psychotherapy patients. Dr. North began publishing his work in 1994 and, as a computer scientist, was most concerned with the virtualization technology, that is, how to make the computer create the environments used in VRT. Dr. Lamson wrote in 1993 a book entitled "Virtual Therapy" which was published in 1997 directed primarily to the detailed explanation of the anatomical, medical and therapeutic basis for the success of VRT. Dr. North published a book entitled "Virtual Reality Therapy" in 1996 directed primarily to the virtualization technology of VRT. Dr Lamson who still continues his development and use of VRT, eventually obtained US Patent 6,425,764 for his interactive immersion VRT and now markets his approach under the service marks VIRTIGO and VIRTUAL THERAPY and is still achieving over 90% success in treatments. Dr. North disclosed his work to and teamed with computer scientist Dr. Larry Hodges of Georgia Tech and psychologist Dr. Barbara Rothbaum of Emory University, and the latter two continued their work and obtained patents on the work they learned from Dr North, but surprisingly omitted Dr. North as inventor from such patents. Drs. Hodges and Rothbaum established a company Virtually Better that commercializes the work they learned from Dr. North, with special emphasis on treating PTSD, and are approaching 90% success. Dr. North now teaches MIS college courses, emphasizing University security, while Dr. Lamson continues his active work in the area of VRT. Yet these two innovators, each working independently of the other, were the true pioneers in this now rapidly developing field. |
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==References== |
==References== |
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Revision as of 18:45, 27 October 2010
Virtual reality therapy (VRT), also known as virtual reality exposure therapy (VRET), is a method of psychotherapy that uses virtual reality technology to treat patients with anxiety disorders, post traumatic stress disorder, and several other medical phobias. New technology also allows for the treatment of addictions.
Virtual Reality Therapy (VRT) uses specially programmed computers, visual immersion devices and artificially created environments to give the patient a simulated experience that can be used to diagnose and treat psychological conditions that cause patients difficulty. Since reaction to the hazards of the environment, such as heights, speaking in public, flying, close spaces, and the like are usually triggered by visual and auditory stimuli, VRT is a means to reproduce or simulate such stimuli so the psychologist or psychiatrist can observe and measure the patient's reaction, and provide appropriate treatment. Such treatment may involve adjusting the virtual environment, determining the triggers for each patient's reaction, or replaying virtual scenes to habituate the patient to such environments. VRT has the great advantage that while the patient experiences the perceived "dangerous" stimuli, the patient knows he or she is actually quite safe in a VRT lab. This allows the patient to confront situations and achieve virtual victories that build self efficacy and the confidence that comes from mastering situations that the patient previously could not confront in real life, and through therapy learn to change behavior so as to eventually confront such situations in real life more successfully. VRT has great promise since it historically produces a "cure" about 90% of the time at about half the cost of traditional cognitive behavior therapy, and is especially promising as a treatment for PTSD where there are simply not enough psychologists and psychiatrists to treat all the veterans with anxiety disorders diagnosed as related to their military service.