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Cited by 59Posttraumatic Stress Disorder ResearchVirtual Reality Applications and ImpactsPsychotherapy Techniques and Applications

A Randomized, Head-to-Head Study of Virtual Reality Exposure Therapy for Posttraumatic Stress Disorder

McLay, Robert N., Baird, Alicia, Webb-Murphy, Jennifer, Deal, William, Tran, Lily, Anson, Heather, Klam, Warren, Johnston, Scott·2017·Cyberpsychology, Behavior, and Social Networking
DOI 10.1089/cyber.2016.0554
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Abstract

Virtual reality exposure therapy (VRET) is one of the few interventions supported by randomized controlled trials for the treatment of combat-related posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in active duty service members. A comparative effectiveness study was conducted to determine if virtual reality technology itself improved outcomes, or if similar results could be achieved with a control exposure therapy (CET) condition. Service members with combat-related PTSD were randomly selected to receive nine weeks of VRET or CET. Assessors, but not therapists, were blinded. PTSD symptom improvement was assessed one week and 3 months after the conclusion of treatment using the clinician-administered PTSD scale (CAPS). A small crossover component was included. Results demonstrated that PTSD symptoms improved with both treatments, but there were no statistically significant differences between groups. Dropout rates were higher in VRET. Of those who received VRET, 13/42 (31%) showed >30% improvement on the CAPS, versus 16/43 (37%) who received CET. Three months after treatment, >30% improvement was seen in 10/33 (30%) of VRET participants and 12/33 (36%) in CET. Participants who crossed over (n = 11) showed no statistically significant improvements in a second round of treatment, regardless of condition. This study supported the utility of exposure therapy for PTSD, but did not support additional benefit by the inclusion of virtual reality.

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  • In the case of PTSD, two recent trials failed to find additional benefits for VR interventions over non-VR treatments such as prolonged exposure, both in terms of primary outcome and drop-out rates, with follow-up results actually better for the non-VR intervention.

    “Nonetheless, in the case of one such disorder- post-traumatic stress disorder- two recent trials36,50 failed to find additional benefits for VR interventions over non-VR treatments such as prolonged exposure, both in terms of primary outcome, as well as drop-out rates, with follow-up results actually better for the non-VR intervention.”

    From The effectiveness of virtual reality based interventions for symptoms of anxiety and depression: A meta-analysis (2018) · cites this paper as [50]

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Authors
McLay, R. N., Baird, A., Webb-Murphy, J., Deal, W., Tran, L., Anson, H., Klam, W., & Johnston, S.
Affiliations
  • San Diego County Mental Health, San Diego, California.
  • Naval Medical Center San Diego (US)
  • Naval Center for Combat and Operational Stress Control, San Diego, California.
ORCID
Deal, William
Venue
Cyberpsychology, Behavior, and Social Networking
Publisher
SAGE Publications
Published
2017-04
Volume
20
Issue
4
Pages
218-224
ISSN
  • 2152-2715 (ISSN-L)
  • 2152-2723
DOI
10.1089/cyber.2016.0554
OpenAlex
W2594225362
Cited by
57
References
23
Citations by year
2026: 6 · 2025: 3 · 2024: 6 · 2023: 6 · 2022: 7 · 2021: 6 · 2020: 10 · 2019: 8 · 2018: 3 · 2017: 2
FWCI
7.78
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
closed
Licence
www.liebertpub.com/nv/resources-tools/text-and-data-mining-policy/121/ (tdm)
Locations
  • Cyberpsychology Behavior and Social Networking (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
Funders
Naval Medical Center San Diego
Topics
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Research
  • Physical Sciences › Computer Science › Human-Computer Interaction › Virtual Reality Applications and Impacts
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Psychotherapy Techniques and Applications
Keywords
virtual reality exposure therapy, post-traumatic stress disorder, combat-related PTSD, active duty military personnel, treatment effectiveness, dropout rates, Clinician-Administered PTSD Scale
MeSH terms
Adult, Combat Disorders, Female, Humans, Implosive Therapy, Male, Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic, Veterans, Single-Blind Method, Treatment Outcome, Virtual Reality Exposure Therapy

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