Virtual reality PTSD treatment has ‘big impact’ for veterans

A recent piece in the BBC explores how virtual reality could be used to help military veterans with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) who have struggled with mainstream treatment.

It involves patients walking on a treadmill in front of a screen which projects images depicting the type of trauma experienced.

A two-year trial found some patients could see almost a 40% improvement in their symptoms.

One veteran said it had given him the “biggest impact” out of any treatment.

The treatment, known as 3MDR, was led by Professor Jon Bisson from Cardiff University and uses the Motek GRAIL system. He said: “We are helping individuals to overcome the avoidance, by walking towards the picture on a treadmill it’s very difficult to avoid and we know that we have to get rid of the avoidance to help an individual to process their traumatic memory.”

Read the full story on the BBC website.

This therapy is also offered by the Brain and Spinal Injury Centre (BASIC), who were recently awarded £10,000 grant by ABF The Soldiers’ Charity for 3DMR rehabilitation for military veterans. Read more.