Treating Anxiety and PTSD with Virtual Reality

Most of us are only familiar with virtual reality headsets as they are used in gaming. However, some psychologists have begun exploring the technology for its therapeutic benefits. According to the New York Times, using virtual reality technology can help treat patients who are suffering from anxiety or post-traumatic stress disorder.

A common treatment for post-traumatic stress disorder is exposure therapy, in which a patient mentally recreates a traumatic situation and is guided through it by their therapist. With the use of virtual reality technology, however, exposure therapy can become even more visceral and therefore more effective. For example, if a patient was in a car accident and is now unable to drive through the intersection where it happened, a virtual reality headset can recreate the intersection, creating a safe environment for the patient to confront their trauma.

This technology can also be used to help patients overcome anxieties and phobias. If you have a fear of heights, the virtual reality headset can bring you safely to the top of a skyscraper. It can even bring patients with a fear of flying up into an airplane, without the obvious hassle and cost of taking a real flight.

A virtual reality headset is worth nothing without a high-quality display, which is why a cutting-edge light and display measurement instrument from Konica Minolta Sensing is invaluable to their development. With a spectroradiometer such as the CS-2000, or a display color analyzer such as the new CA-410, you can measure a wide range of light and color of next-generation displays with extreme accuracy. Instruments such as these by Konica Minolta Sensing will assure a more breathtaking virtual reality experience.