shoe
07-12-2005, 10:24 AM
This article discusses the application of virtual reality in treatments for phobias. The patients put these goggles on their head and images representing their phobias are displayed onscreen, while they are able to turn their head and look around the environment they are 'virtually' placed in. They also add sound and other mechanisms (such as touch sensations) to simulate things. One therapist adds the drug D-Cycloserine (DCS) to the treatment session, a medication which has been shown to extinguish fear in rats.
The extent to which the therapy will be effective depends upon how receptive the patient is to this type of therapy, which might depend on how hypnotizable they are.
http://www.apa.org/monitor/julaug05/cure.html
I also found the website for the virtual reality equipment here:
http://virtuallybetter.com/
Not very realistic at all (geez, 3D games today are WAY more realistic) - but apparently good enough for some people!
The extent to which the therapy will be effective depends upon how receptive the patient is to this type of therapy, which might depend on how hypnotizable they are.
http://www.apa.org/monitor/julaug05/cure.html
I also found the website for the virtual reality equipment here:
http://virtuallybetter.com/
Not very realistic at all (geez, 3D games today are WAY more realistic) - but apparently good enough for some people!