Effectiveness of virtual reality exposure treatment for posttraumatic stress disorder due to motor vehicle or industrial accidents

Abstract

Virtual reality exposure treatment (VRET) for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is an emerging treatment. The purpose of this study was to examine the effectiveness and safety of VRET in patients with PTSD due to motor vehicle or industrial accidents. Twenty-six patients with PTSD (19 motor vehicle accidents and 7 industrial accidents) and eighteen subjects without PTSD were enrolled in five VRET sessions that were conducted using a head-mounted display. The VRET was based on systematic desensitization and included psychoeducation and training for breathing and relaxation techniques. The effectiveness of VRET was evaluated using the Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Checklist-Civilian version (PCL-C), Impact of Event Scale-Revised (IES-R), Clinical Global Impression-Severity scale (CGI-S), and Sheehan Disability Scale (SDS). Safety was assessed using the Simulator Sickness Questionnaire and Presence Questionnaire. After controlling for age, sex, marital status, job, economic status, and body mass index, we found that the CGI-S (F = 12.76, p = 0.001), PCL-C (F = 11.87, p = 0.002), IES-R (total score; F-8.31, p = 0.007), and SDS-A (F = 7.53, p = 0.010) scores in the VRET group were lower than those in the control group. Responses to the Simulator Sickness and Presence questionnaires did not differ significantly between the VRET and control groups (p > 0.05). In conclusion, for patients with PTSD due to motor vehicle accidents, VRET is a safe and potentially effective treatment method. Future randomized controlled studies are needed to provide stronger evidence for the effectiveness of VRET in patients with PTSD.