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Last Updated: Monday, 19 February 2007, 10:22 GMT

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Virtual treatment for US troops
By Jonathan Fildes
Science and technology reporter, BBC News, San Francisco



Patients saw immediate post treatment gains, researchers said
Virtual reality is being used to treat soldiers returning from Iraq with post-traumatic stress disorder.

The immersive system combines realistic street scenes, sounds and odours to allow patients to relive traumatic events in a controlled environment.

During the "exposure therapy", a clinician determines the intensity of the events the soldier experiences.

The prototype system is currently being trialled in the US but has already successfully treated four volunteers.

"We see immediate post treatment gains," said Dr Skip Rezzo of the University of Southern California and one of the team that developed the system.

In particular, the system seems to help with symptoms such as nightmares and flashbacks.

"Those are the cold clinical symptoms but this translates into being able to leave the house, being able to go to work or being able to continue your relationship with your wife or loved ones," said Dr Rezzo.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/6375097.stm