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Treating Traumatic Stress with Videogames

Posted by ryuzaki0 on from the better-than-a-stuffed-bunny dept.

garzpacho writes "Doctors at the Virtual Reality Medical Center are using VR video games to treat post-traumatic stress disorder among vets returning from Iraq and Afghanistan. The software behind the treatment incorporates elements from the military training video game Full Spectrum Warrior, and had some input from designers of America's Army. From the article: 'Dr. Dennis Wood takes patients on what some might consider an odd journey. He starts off leading them to a military compound in Fallujah, Iraq. He then guides them through an Iraqi marketplace before they accompany a patrol through Iraqi homes. And if he thinks they're up to it, he may even take them onto a battlefield, in the midst of explosions and aircraft flying overhead.'"

5 of 78 comments (clear)

  1. It's all ok... by fireman+sam · · Score: 4, Funny

    The war in Iraq/Iran/Syria was just a game, nobody *REALLY* got hurt. Now go home and watch some tv... Shhh, it was just a game...

    --
    it is only after a long journey that you know the strength of the horse.
    1. Re:It's all ok... by ackthpt · · Score: 2, Funny

      The war in Iraq/Iran/Syria was just a game, nobody *REALLY* got hurt. Now go home and watch some tv... Shhh, it was just a game...

      I'm waiting for the game based upon this episode of history. I expect it will be named With Us or Against Us

      --

      A feeling of having made the same mistake before: Deja Foobar
    2. Re:It's all ok... by megaditto · · Score: 2, Funny
      The real question is, does one have to play the Freedom scenario, or can a hot coffee patch be applied to select the alternative:
       
      start them off at a madrasa in Pakistan, [...] then guide then through planting IEDs in the Iraqi marketplace. And if he thinks they're up to it, he may even take them to see Allah in the midst of 72 vigins flying overhead?
      --
      Obama likes poor people so much, he wants to make more of them.
  2. Tit for tat by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 3, Funny

    This is truely a remarkable step forward in medical science. Victims of PTSD rejoice! You may now live a productive lifestyle eating cold pizza and tacos while staring at the computer screen. As per yesterday's article it is clear that the experts believe that videogame addiction is far superior to PTSD.

  3. umm,,.... by Dangolo · · Score: 2, Funny

    so they're treating someone who's having a hard time managing themselves in the real world, by submerging them in a virtual world?

    It didn't work out so well for lawnmowerman, or did it?