PERSPECTIVES OF VIRTUAL REALITY EXPOSURE THERAPY FOR TREATMENT OF POSTTRAUMATIC STRESS DISORDER

Abstract

The article is devoted to the prospects for using of new technologies for the treatment of post traumatic stress disorder (hereinafter-PTSD). The main differences of the new diagnosis of PTSD in the classification DSM-V are creation of a different cluster of PTSD, definition of two subtypes (children and dissociative), regrouping and creation addition diagnostic criteria (C, D, E), exclusion sub criteria A2, focus on behavior. Two types of virtual environments for treatment of PTSD were defined. There are specific realistic scenarios and flexible virtual environment. Advantages and disadvantages of Virtual Reality Exposure Therapy (hereinafter-VRET) were considered. The main advantage includes the level of acceptability of treatment of patients and doctors before and during. The main drawback includes high cost of VRET equipment and difficulties in indi-vidualization of scenarios. Generalized requirements of VRET protocol consists of 8-12 sessions. It is also duration of 90 minutes, once a week and using of previous techniques of a breathing control. After it is a start of virtual exposure and techniques of relaxation and consolidation of the results for prevention of recurrences. The list of basic techniques witch are used for VRET was considered.