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Anxiety Disorders Center:  Virtual Reality Treatment Study for Returning OIF/OEF Veterans


The Anxiety Disorders Center is conducting a state-of-the-art treatment study using virtual reality technology to help Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom veterans adjust to civilian life after returning home from deployment.


Common Problems for Returning Vets:

  • Trouble sleeping
  • Trouble focusing at work or school
  • Trouble relating to family or friends
  • Irritability or anger
  • Jumpiness

The Virtual Reality Study

Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) is one of the most effective treatments for helping individuals adjust to civilian life after returning from deployment. Although CBT is highly effective, people sometimes have difficultly engaging in the program because it relies heavily on one’s imagination. To make the program more successful, a virtual reality environment was developed to make it more realistic and to decrease reliance on an individual’s imagination.

In the current study, we are testing if twice-weekly exposure to a virtual reality CBT program can help returning OIF/OEF vets get back the life they had before deployment. Interested individuals will be evaluated at a screening visit to determine eligibility. The program lasts six weeks and will be followed by a three-month follow-up assessment. A small monetary incentive is provided to individuals who complete the program.

 

Treatment offered as part of this study is free of charge and will not appear on military health or mental health records.

  


 

If you would like more information or would like to participate, please contact:

Chris Gilliam, Ph.D.
Postdoctoral Fellow
Anxiety Disorders Center
The Institute of Living/Hartford Hospital
200 Retreat Avenue 
Hartford, CT 06106
Phone: (860) 545-7752
E-mail: cgilliam@harthosp.org

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