A Computer-Based Intervention with Elements of Virtual Reality and Limited Therapist Assistance for the Treatment of PTSD : Efficacy, Acceptance and Future Implications

The main objective of this dissertation was to investigate the overall efficacy, acceptance and future implications of the 3MR (Multi Modal Memory Restructuring) intervention for the treatment of PTSD (‘post-traumatic stress disorder’). The 3MR intervention is a computer-based trauma intervention with elements of Virtual Reality (VR) and limited therapist involvement for the treatment of PTSD. To determine the efficacy of the 3MR intervention, we conducted a randomized controlled trial (RCT) amongst traumatized victims of childhood sexual abuse (CSA) and war veterans. In this trial we compared the effects of the 3MR intervention to those of more regular, evidence-based treatment methods (‘treatment as usual’, TAU). A total of 44 patients with PTSD was included in the RCT and results showed that symptoms of PTSD and depression both significantly decreased and that there was no significant difference found between the two treatment conditions (3MR and TAU). This research may form an adequate first step in the direction of future use of this computer-based intervention for the treatment of PTSD. This research is part of the VESP (‘Virtual eCoaching and Storytelling technology for Post-traumatic stress disorder treatment’) project.

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