Virtual Reality in EMDR Trauma Treatment during Wartime in Ukraine

Virtual Reality in EMDR Trauma Treatment during Wartime in Ukraine

Olya Zaporozhets, Kyle Lincoln, Valter De Souza, Evan Lafountain, Skip Rizzo, Jennifer Brea, and Danielle Winters' International Institute of Postgraduate Education, Ukraine; Regent University, US; University of Southern California, US

Translated by: Specialist Psychologist Gizem Pozam

 

Introduction

- Experience two VR scenarios being developed for EMDR application in the context of PTSD treatment in Ukraine.

Background

• Virtual reality is most commonly associated with prolonged exposure (VRET). However, clinical virtual reality has a broader range of applications: exposure, distraction, motivation, measurement, and engagement


• Within EMDR, VR can be used:

as a memory reactivation tool ,

to reduce dropout rates and increase treatment engagement and

for future scenario modeling

Aims

• Introduce the theoretical basis for combining VR and EMDR


• Discuss the advantages of virtual reality for reactivating memories, increasing treatment engagement, and modeling future scenarios


• Provide an opportunity to experience VR scenarios of wartime Ukraine

Piloting process

• In collaboration with Foundation Digital Labs (UK), University of Southern California (US), International Institute of Postgraduate Education (Ukraine), and Regent University (US), three scenarios have been developed: the two below and a third combat world scenario.


• Training and familiarization - product testing with American and Ukrainian clinicians.


• Initial trials with a small group of participants to test the use of logging features to capture detailed session data


• Pilot testing will take place in three veterans' hospitals in Ukraine

Conclusion

- The purpose of this research is to develop and pilot virtual reality as an adjunct to the EMDR Standard Protocol for use in the Ukrainian context.

- Integrating virtual reality into EMDR to focus on future templates represents an innovative approach to trauma therapy and is particularly relevant in contexts such as present-day Ukraine.

 

 

 

 

Virtual Reality in EMDR Trauma Treatment during Wartime in Ukraine

 

Olya Zaporozhets, Kyle Lincoln, Valter De Souza, Evan Lafountain, Skip Rizzo, Jennifer Brea, and Danielle Winters' International Institute of Postgraduate Education, Ukraine; Regent University, US; University of Southern California, US

 

 

Introduction

• Experience two VR scenarios that are being developed for EMDR application within a PTSD treatment context in Ukraine.

 

Background

• Virtual reality is most commonly associated with prolonged exposure (VRET). However, clinical VR has a wider breadth of application: to expose, distract, motivate, measure and engage


• Within EMDR, VR can be used:

as a memory reactivation tool ,

to reduce dropout rates and increase treatment engagement , and

for future scenario modeling

 

Aims

• Introduce to the theoretical basis for combining VR and EMDR


• Discuss advantages of VR in reactivating memories, increasing treatment engagement, and for future scenario modeling


• Provide experiential opportunity of VR scenarios of wartime Ukraine

 

Piloting process

• In collaboration with Foundation Digital Labs (UK), University of Southern California (USA), International Institute of Postgraduate Education (Ukraine), and Regent University (USA), three scenarios have been developed including the two below, as well as a third combat world scenario.

 

• Training and familiarization - product testing with American and Ukranian clinicians.


• Initial trials with a small group of participants to test to use the logging features to capture detailed session data


• Pilot testing will occur in three veterans hospitals in Ukraine

 

Conclusion

• The purpose of this research is the development and piloting of VR as an add on to the EMDR Standard Protocol for application in the Ukrainian context.


• Integrating VR into EMDR to focus on future templates represents an innovative approach in trauma therapy, especially relevant in contexts like present Ukraine.