THERAPY-NINTENDO STYLE

I read a fascinating article in the August issue of Wired Magazine. I thought I might sum it up for all you avid readers in case you don't have a moment to read it. Although the names have changed, the affect of war is inevitably the same. The fancy name for it now is post-traumatic stress disorder or PTSD. Unfortunately, almost everyone knows a vet who suffers from some level of PTSD. Some people can get over the horrors they have experienced in defense of their country; however, there is a definite need for psychiatric help for many of those coming home. The usual method of treatment is through anti-depressants. If the patient doesn't like that, they can always try counseling, but often times that falls terribly short of doing anything except frustrating and angering the vet even more.

Exposure Therapy, "in which patients are reintroduced to the traumatic triggers again and again" has been used successfully for many years. This therapy was first used on non-military sufferers of PTSD. The problem with this method lies in the difficulty of the patient to reexpose themselves to the trauma in their own minds.

Enter virtual reality and gaming software. VR has been used on people with phobias and thanks to Virtual Vietnam and Full Spectrum Warrior-returning vets can now be exposed to what they saw during wartime. The patient wears an army helmet fitted with VR goggles. The therapist is able to see what the patient is seeing on a nearby computer and another terminal is used as a control panel. Three environments are used-large city, small city, and moving humvee. The first session merely introduces the patient to the VR world. As the sessions progress, more stressors (gunfire, explosions) are added. Everything down to the noises heard is very precise. The patient stands on a platform that vibrates as needed and there is also a smell machine which releases scents like garbage, Iraqi spices, diesel fuel, and body odor.

These extremely realistic games are actually helping some to leave behind their nightmarish experiences and have more productive and calm lives.

I will admit, I was hesitant at first about using video games as treatment. In my perfect pacifist world the treatment would be simple-no war. But I'm also a realist. Wars will exist as long as differences exist-different religions, languages, hair color. There is always a reason (sane or not) to see someone as the enemy. So if this new therapy helps people, who am I to see fault in it. I am truly lucky in that, so far, I don't need psychiatric help.