Real Pain Dulled In Virtual Worlds

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."

Comments

Reliving most painful events in one's life?

[loosenoodle]

Well, where do i sign up for that? I mean, it's not like it wasn't bad enough the first time. Let's analyze the psychoanalytic value of VR treatment for PTSD patients in a more C-esque manner:

function dumbAssTherapyTechnique(you&) {
while ( !you.cured ) {
you.reliveWorstMomentInYourLife();
if (!you.feelbetter) {
dumbAssTherapyTechnique(you);
} else {
you.cured = true; //odds of this happening - 10000000000000 to 1
}
return I_THINK_IM_CURED;
}

The _only_ value in this VR idea is for treating chronic phobias, and even if at best, reducing the phobic reactions. PSTDs and phobias are are two completely different concepts and I HIGHLY doubt the value of this type of therapy for PSTD patients. If you'd like to test my theory, ask a rape victim if she'd like to relive the _experience_.
Burn victims are one thing (physical pain translating into mental pain), but most (not all) PTSD are opposite in nature to burn victims. It's a nice idea and if it works for burn victims, great. But please, think just a minute before applying 1 minor progressive technique to other domains in psychology.