ABSTRACT
Abstract Virtual reality (VR)-based therapy has emerged as a potentially useful means to treat post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), but randomized studies have been lacking for Service Members from Iraq or Afghanistan. This study documents a small, randomized, controlled trial of VR-graded exposure therapy (VR-GET) versus treatment as usual (TAU) for PTSD in Active Duty military personnel with combat-related PTSD. Success was gauged according to whether treatment resulted in a 30 percent or greater improvement in the PTSD symptom severity as assessed by the Clinician Administered PTSD Scale (CAPS) after 10 weeks of treatment. Seven of 10 participants improved by 30 percent or greater while in VR-GET, whereas only 1 of the 9 returning participants in TAU showed similar improvement. This is a clinically and statistically significant result (χ(2) = 6.74, p < 0.01, relative risk 3.2). Participants in VR-GET improved an average of 35 points on the CAPS, whereas those in TAU averaged a 9-point improvement (p < 0.05). The results are limited by small size, lack of blinding, a single therapist, and comparison to a relatively uncontrolled usual care condition, but did show VR-GET to be a safe and effective treatment for combat-related PTSD.
Subject(s)
Combat Disorders/therapy , Implosive Therapy/instrumentation , Military Psychiatry/methods , Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic/therapy , Therapy, Computer-Assisted , Adult , Afghan Campaign 2001- , Combat Disorders/complications , Combat Disorders/psychology , Computer Simulation , Female , Humans , Implosive Therapy/methods , Iraq War, 2003-2011 , Male , Middle Aged , Military Personnel/psychology , Military Psychiatry/instrumentation , Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic/etiology , Treatment Outcome , User-Computer Interface , Young AdultABSTRACT
The article is devoted to using of telecommunicational technologies for prophylaxis, diagnostics and treatment of psychic disorders by military servicemen of specialbuildings of command post of Air Force. Were defined main tasks of using telecomunicational net for improvement of psychic reliability of military operators during a combat duty. Was proposed a scheme of using forces and facilities of medical service in organization of psycho-prophylactic work with using telemedical technologies, was proved necessity of creation of coordination counsel in telemedicine.
Subject(s)
Mental Disorders/prevention & control , Military Medicine , Military Personnel , Military Psychiatry , Telemedicine , Humans , Military Medicine/instrumentation , Military Medicine/methods , Military Medicine/organization & administration , Military Psychiatry/instrumentation , Military Psychiatry/methods , Military Psychiatry/organization & administration , Telemedicine/instrumentation , Telemedicine/methods , Telemedicine/organization & administrationABSTRACT
The purpose of this project was to assess the concurrent and predictive validity of the Stages of Change Readiness and Treatment Eagerness Scale (SOCRATES) for military service members undergoing substance abuse treatment. Concurrent validity was assessed by examining the correlation of SOCRATES subscales with subscales from the Addiction Treatment Attitude Questionnaire. Predictive validity was assessed by examining the ability of SOCRATES subscales to predict length of stay in treatment and successful completion of treatment. Scores on the SOCRATES were correlated in the expected direction with scores on the Addiction Treatment Attitude Questionnaire and predicted length of stay in treatment and successful completion of treatment. The findings provide support for the validity of the SOCRATES with substance abuse treatment-seeking military service members.
