AWARD YEAR
2017
CATEGORY
Body
GOALS
Balance Human & Artificial Intelligence
KEYWORDS
mental health, VR
COUNTRY
United States of America
DESIGNED BY
Albert "Skip" Rizzo and Arno Hartholt, University of Southern California Institute for Creative Technologies
WEBSITE
http://ict.usc.edu/prototypes/pts/
Bravemind
Virtual Reality Exposure Therapy
ICT’s virtual reality exposure therapy is aimed at providing relief from post-traumatic stress.
Currently found at over 60 sites, including VA hospitals, military bases and university centers, ICT’s Virtual Iraq/Afghanistan exposure therapy approach has been shown to produce a meaningful reduction in PTS symptoms. Additional randomized controlled studies are ongoing.
Exposure therapy, in which a patient – guided by a trained therapist – confronts their trauma memories through a retelling of the experience, is now endorsed as an “evidence-based” treatment for PTS. ICT researchers added to this therapy by leveraging virtual art assets that were originally built for the commercially successful X-Box game and combat tactical simulation scenario, Full Spectrum Warrior. The current applications consist of a series of virtual scenarios specifically designed to represent relevant contexts for VR exposure therapy, including Middle-Eastern themed city and desert road environments.