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Treating Traumatic Stress with Videogames
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.'"
What if my Post Traumatic Stress was caused by video games?
Actually I found any game I played too much of could really mess me up for a few days. Muds were terrible for going around unconciously assessing what level people were and how many experience and gold I could get if I snuffed 'em.
Now I stick to simple strategy games which only give me unconscious reflexive behaviour to want real estate in bright, shiny primary colours.
"oh, blue! want that!" "hmm the intersection of ocean and water looks like a good place to harvest wool, wheat and wood"
I'd probably have post traumatic stress if I even came close to one of these
A feeling of having made the same mistake before: Deja Foobar
A psychiatrist I knew who served in WWII treated shell-shocked vets by introducing them to model railroading--the type where you would build everything from kits.
Model railroading worked a lot better than the George S. Patton school of rehabilitation.
I hope these simulated video environments truly help those soldiers who served our country.