U. Feintuch, Maya Tuchner, Adi Lorber-Haddad, Z. Meiner, S. Shiri
{"title":"VirHab - A virtual reality system for treatment of chronic pain and disability","authors":"U. Feintuch, Maya Tuchner, Adi Lorber-Haddad, Z. Meiner, S. Shiri","doi":"10.1109/ICVR.2009.5174210","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1109/ICVR.2009.5174210","url":null,"abstract":"In recent years several lines of research have provided scientific evidence for the therapeutic value of non-invasive methods based on visual feedback and motor imagery. Clinical studies have demonstrated their potential to benefit some patient populations such as cerebrovascular accident (CVA) and complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS). This type of intervention appears appropriate for implementation using virtual reality (VR) technology which can provide the required stimuli. The present study proposes a new VR system based on a motion capture platform, and is currently targeted at treating pain and impairment of upper extremities. The system employs image processing algorithms so the patient sees himself on a screen within a virtual environment. His impaired arm, however, is replaced by a virtual arm. Thus upon making small movements of his paretic arm, he can view his image performing healthy full-range movements with the virtual arm. We hypothesize that this would facilitate plastic changes in the brain, leading to reduced pain and improved function of the impaired limb.","PeriodicalId":102061,"journal":{"name":"2009 Virtual Rehabilitation International Conference","volume":"156 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2009-07-24","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"122615213","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
A. Rizzo, Brad Newman, T. Parsons, G. Reger, Kevin M. Holloway, G. Gahm, B. Rothbaum, J. Difede, R. McLay, S. Johnston, K. Graap, Josh Spitalnick, P. Bordnick
{"title":"Development and Clinical Results from the Virtual Iraq Exposure Therapy Application for PTSD","authors":"A. Rizzo, Brad Newman, T. Parsons, G. Reger, Kevin M. Holloway, G. Gahm, B. Rothbaum, J. Difede, R. McLay, S. Johnston, K. Graap, Josh Spitalnick, P. Bordnick","doi":"10.1109/ICVR.2009.5174198","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1109/ICVR.2009.5174198","url":null,"abstract":"Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is reported to be caused by exposure to an extreme traumatic stressor involving direct personal experience of (or witnessing/learning about) an event that involves actual or threatened death or serious injury, or other threat to one's physical integrity including (but not limited to) military combat, violent personal assault, being kidnapped or taken hostage and terrorist attacks. Such incidents would be distressing to almost anyone, and are usually experienced with intense fear, horror, and helplessness. Initial data suggests that at least 1 out of 5 Iraq War veterans are exhibiting symptoms of depression, anxiety and PTSD. Virtual Reality (VR) delivered exposure therapy for PTSD has been previously used with reports of positive outcomes. The current paper will present the rationale and description of a VR PTSD therapy application (Virtual Iraq/Afghanistan) and present initial findings from a number of early studies of its use with active duty service members. Virtual Iraq/Afghanistan consists of a series of customizable virtual scenarios designed to represent relevant Middle Eastern VR contexts for exposure therapy, including a city and desert road convoy environment. User-centered design feedback needed to iteratively evolve the system was gathered from returning Iraq War veterans in the USA and from a system deployed in Iraq and tested by an Army Combat Stress Control Team. Results from an open clinical trial using Virtual Iraq with 20 treatment completers indicated that 16 no longer met PTSD diagnostic criteria at post-treatment, with only one not maintaining treatment gains at 3 month follow-up.","PeriodicalId":102061,"journal":{"name":"2009 Virtual Rehabilitation International Conference","volume":"48 6 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2008-12-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"128529029","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}