Virtual Reality for PTSD disclaimer shows issues

We make fun of virtual reality. Veterans say while it is "cool" it does not do them any good. Sure it may help some, but then again, any step taken will make them feel better for a little while but it doesn't last.

There is a new report on virtual reality. No big shocker here because folks have been pushing this for a long time. The kicker was found in the disclaimer at the bottom of the report.

Rothbaum is a consultant to and owns equity in Virtually Better, Inc, which creates virtual environments, however Virtually Better did not create the Virtual Iraq environment tested in this study. Co-authors Kerry Ressler, PhD, and Michael Davis, PhD, are founding members of Extinction Pharmaceuticals/Therpade Technologies, which seek to develop d-cycloserine and other compounds for use to augment the effectiveness of psychotherapy. They have received no equity or income from this relationship within the last three years. The terms of these arrangements have been reviewed and approved by Emory University in accordance with its conflict of interest policies.

Now that you read that, take it into consideration when you read about claims made.

Emory researchers report first findings of virtual reality exposure therapy for veterans with PTSD
Emory University
Woodruff Health Sciences Center
April 21, 2014

A randomized controlled clinical trial of Iraq and Afghanistan veterans with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) found that shorter doses of virtual reality exposure therapy (VRE) reduces PTSD diagnoses and symptoms.

The study was published in the April 18, 2014 online edition of the American Journal of Psychiatry,

Researchers at Emory University conducted the study with 156 veterans with combat-related PTSD. After an introductory session, each veteran was randomly assigned to receive d-cycloserine (DCS) (53 subjects), alprazolam (50 subjects), or a placebo (53 subjects) before each of five sessions of VRE.

The study found PTSD symptoms significantly improved from pre- to post-treatment with the VRE therapy and the DCS may enhance the VRE results for those veterans who demonstrated better emotional learning in sessions. In addition to self-reported symptoms, researchers used objective measures of cortisol, a stress hormone, and the startle response, and found reductions in reactivity after treatment. Alprazolam, known more commonly as Xanax, impaired recovery from symptoms.
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If it works for you, great. If not, don't give up. Keep looking for what works best for you. Make sure that you take care of the whole you. Your mind, body and spirit and heal. You are not "stuck" where you are and can change again.