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Real Pain Dulled In Virtual Worlds

Posted by timothy on from the burns-are-serious dept.

26199 writes "The BBC is reporting on a novel use of Virtual Reality: as a distraction for burn victims who suffer excruciating pain during daily dressing changes. What's most interesting is that it actually works. Another use of VR discussed is in the treatment of patients suffering Post Traumatic Stress Disorder; memories can be relived until they are accepted."

2 of 237 comments (clear)

  1. like dentists used to do with white noise by johnjosephbachir · · Score: 5, Informative

    iirc, dentists used to do something similar. patients would wear headphones while procedures were being done. i think they would play some sort of white noise.

    j

  2. Re:Safe? by Vthornheart · · Score: 5, Informative
    Well, the trick of PTSD is that, for most people, the daily struggle to not remember (and avoid things that remind them) is much more traumatic. Imagine walking down a street, and a certain type of tree or smell in the air sets you off. Between having that and having one extremely painful session of emotion-dulling via reliving the experience, I'll take emotion dulling. At least it will bring a somewhat permanent conclusion.

    This is, of course, assuming that it actually WORKS. =)

    --
    -Vendal Thornheart