VR Exposure Therapy + D-Cycloserine (DCS) for Treating PTSD in Patients with Combat-Related Burn Injuries
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1
U.S. Army Institute of Surgical Research, Brooke Army Medical Center, United States
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2
Virtual Reality Research Center, University of Washington, United States
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3
Pacific Telehealth & Technology Hui, United States
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4
Universitat Jaume I, Spain
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5
Emory University, United States
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6
Cornell Presbyterian Hospital, United States
For soldiers returning from OIF/OEF with severe combat-related burn injuries from IED attacks, approx. 28% may also be affected by PTSD. Virtual Reality Exposure (VRE) is a promising new treatment for PTSD. Most completers show clinically meaningful reductions in PTSD and depression. VRE helps patients process, habituate to, and stop avoiding memories and strong emotions associated with their memories of traumatic events. D-Cycloserine pills can accelerate fear extinction learning, the essence of exposure therapy. Our study explores the feasibility of using VRE combined with D-Cycloserine to augment cognitive behavioral therapy for treating PTSD in soldiers/warfighters healing from combat-related burn injuries. Pre, mid- and several post-treatment CAPS and depression scores measure treatment success. Challenges to treating combat-related PTSD, and special challenging to treating PTSD in patients with severe combat-related burn injuries, will be discussed. With thousands of U.S. soldiers returning from Iraq and Afghanistan with PTSD, a new unusually effective and efficient treatment protocol that is attractive to young video game generation soldiers, and also works with burn patients could prove valuable. A randomized controlled study may be conducted in the future, if warranted by the findings of the current feasibility study and pending funding.
Conference:
Annual CyberTherapy and CyberPsychology 2009 conference, Villa Caramora, Italy, 21 Jun - 23 Jun, 2009.
Presentation Type:
Oral Presentation
Topic:
Oral Presentations
Citation:
Gaylord
K,
Hoffman
HG,
Maiers
A,
Maani
C,
Miyahira
SD,
Garcia-Palacios
A,
Rothbaum
B and
Difede
J
(2009). VR Exposure Therapy + D-Cycloserine (DCS) for Treating PTSD in Patients with Combat-Related Burn Injuries.
Front. Neuroeng.
Conference Abstract:
Annual CyberTherapy and CyberPsychology 2009 conference.
doi: 10.3389/conf.neuro.14.2009.06.034
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Received:
19 Mar 2009;
Published Online:
19 Mar 2009.
*
Correspondence:
H. G Hoffman, Virtual Reality Research Center, University of Washington, Washington, United States, hunter@HITL.washington.edu