Video Games Used To Treat Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder

Researchers are seeing positive results after experimenting veterans with post-traumatic stress disorder with video game therapy.

A realistic video game, Virtual Iraq, is being tested in the United States to see if it can help veterans feel more comfortable with psychotherapy. The theory is that since young veterans are so familiar with video games, engaging in a game that reminds them of what traumatized them makes them more susceptible to therapy.

So far, experiments have been going on for two years, and show promising signs. Researchers say that virtual reality games are successful partly because they help people who normally would not respond well to exposure treatment.

Symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder include nightmares, flashbacks, and emotional numbness. PTSD is caused by traumatic events, such as combat, assault, rape or serious accidents.