@article{ref1,
title="A randomized, head-to-head study of virtual reality exposure therapy for posttraumatic stress disorder",
journal="Cyberpsychology, behavior and social networking",
year="2017",
author="McLay, Robert N. and Baird, Alicia and Webb-Murphy, Jennifer and Deal, William and Tran, Lily and Anson, Heather and Klam, Warren and Johnston, Scott",
volume="20",
number="4",
pages="218-224",
abstract="Virtual reality exposure therapy (VRET) is one of the few interventions supported by randomized controlled trials for the treatment of combat-related posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in active duty service members. A comparative effectiveness study was conducted to determine if virtual reality technology itself improved outcomes, or if similar results could be achieved with a control exposure therapy (CET) condition. Service members with combat-related PTSD were randomly selected to receive nine weeks of VRET or CET. Assessors, but not therapists, were blinded. PTSD symptom improvement was assessed one week and 3 months after the conclusion of treatment using the clinician-administered PTSD scale (CAPS). A small crossover component was included. <br><br>RESULTS demonstrated that PTSD symptoms improved with both treatments, but there were no statistically significant differences between groups. Dropout rates were higher in VRET. Of those who received VRET, 13/42 (31%) showed >30% improvement on the CAPS, versus 16/43 (37%) who received CET. Three months after treatment, >30% improvement was seen in 10/33 (30%) of VRET participants and 12/33 (36%) in CET. Participants who crossed over (n = 11) showed no statistically significant improvements in a second round of treatment, regardless of condition. This study supported the utility of exposure therapy for PTSD, but did not support additional benefit by the inclusion of virtual reality.<p /> <p>Language: en</p>",
language="en",
issn="2152-2715",
doi="10.1089/cyber.2016.0554",
url="http://dx.doi.org/10.1089/cyber.2016.0554"
}