Gerardi et al. (2008)

Aim

To evaluate the effectiveness of VRE using a Virtual Iraq programme for treatment of PTSD in an Iraq war veteran

Background

• 29-year-old male who had seen 10 years of service that included a year in Iraq

• 6 months after his return he reported the symptoms of PTSD, using a series of self-report questionnaires and scale regarding his mood

• memory of one particularly traumatic occurrence was identified

Procedure

• Weekly 90-minute VRE sessions (total of 4 sessions)

• Exposed to 2 repetitions of trauma memory per session, intensifying each time

• Participant reported feelings and reactions post-session, including Subjective Units of Distress ratings (1-100)

Findings

• Clinician Administered PTSD scale score decreased significantly by 56%

• PTSD Symptom Scale Self-Report score dropped from 35 to 10, indicating substantial reduction in PTSD symptoms

Conclusion

• Veteran showed PTSD symptom improvement with significant changes in Caps and PSS-R scores post-treatment

• VRE effectively decreased anxiety by alleviating distressing PTSD symptoms

Strengths

• Utilized both subjective and objective symptom measures, considering clinician-reported discrepancies and self-reported changes

• High internal validity of the case study ensured by comprehensive assessment using multiple measures

Limitations

• Participant still met PTSD criteria post 4-week treatment; lacking long-term follow-up data for effectiveness assessment

• Single-participant case study results necessitate replication for enhanced reliability and generalizability