TY - JOUR
T1 - The efficacy of virtual reality exposure therapy for PTSD symptoms
T2 - A systematic review and meta-analysis
AU - Deng, Wenrui
AU - Hu, Die
AU - Xu, S.
AU - Liu, Xiaoyu
AU - Zhao, Jingwen
AU - Chen, Qian
AU - Liu, Jiayuan
AU - Zhang, Z.
AU - Jiang, Wenxiu
AU - Ma, L.
AU - Hong, X.
AU - Cheng, Shengrong
AU - Liu, Boya
AU - Li, Xiaoming
N1 - Funding Information:
This work was supported by the Anhui Natural Science Foundation (1808085MH291), and the project of Human Social Science of Anhuiprovince (SK2016A047), and Grants for Scientific Research of BSKY (XJ201826) from Anhui Medical University. We thank Barbara OlasovRothbaum, Matthew price, Michael J. Roy and Pedro Gamito for providing the raw data of their research and giving us helpful feedback.
Funding Information:
This work was supported by the Anhui Natural Science Foundation ( 1808085MH291 ), and the project of Human Social Science of Anhui province ( SK2016A047 ), and Grants for Scientific Research of BSKY ( XJ201826 ) from Anhui Medical University .
Publisher Copyright:
© 2019 Elsevier B.V.
PY - 2019/10/1
Y1 - 2019/10/1
N2 - Background: Virtual reality exposure therapy (VRET) for PTSD is an emerging treatment of remarkable promise, but its efficacy and safety are still unclear. Our aim was to investigate the efficacy of VRET for individuals with PTSD, and to identify the potential moderating variables associated with interventions. Methods: Literature search was conducted via PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, Cochrane Library, PsycInfo, Science Direct, and EBSCO. We identified 18 studies on PTSD including 13 randomized controlled trials (RCTs; 654 participants) and 5 single-group trials (60 participants). Results: The main effects analysis showed a moderate effect size (g = 0.327, 95% CI: 0.105–0.550, p<0.01) for VRET compared to control conditions on PTSD symptoms. Subgroup analysis revealed that the effects of VRET were larger when compared to inactive groups (g = 0.567) than active control groups (g = 0.017). This finding was in agreement with depressive symptoms. A dose–response relationship existed with more VRET sessions showing larger effects. There was a long-range effect of VRET on PTSD symptoms indicating a sustained decrease in PTSD symptoms at 3-month follow-up (g = 0.697) and 6-month follow-up (g = 0.848). The single-group trials analysis revealed that the VRET intervention had a significant effect on PTSD. Limitations: Many of the combat-related PTSD subjects resulted in uncertainty regarding meta-analytical estimates and subsequent conclusions. Conclusions: These findings demonstrated that VRET could produce significant PTSD symptoms reduction and supported its application in treating PTSD.
AB - Background: Virtual reality exposure therapy (VRET) for PTSD is an emerging treatment of remarkable promise, but its efficacy and safety are still unclear. Our aim was to investigate the efficacy of VRET for individuals with PTSD, and to identify the potential moderating variables associated with interventions. Methods: Literature search was conducted via PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, Cochrane Library, PsycInfo, Science Direct, and EBSCO. We identified 18 studies on PTSD including 13 randomized controlled trials (RCTs; 654 participants) and 5 single-group trials (60 participants). Results: The main effects analysis showed a moderate effect size (g = 0.327, 95% CI: 0.105–0.550, p<0.01) for VRET compared to control conditions on PTSD symptoms. Subgroup analysis revealed that the effects of VRET were larger when compared to inactive groups (g = 0.567) than active control groups (g = 0.017). This finding was in agreement with depressive symptoms. A dose–response relationship existed with more VRET sessions showing larger effects. There was a long-range effect of VRET on PTSD symptoms indicating a sustained decrease in PTSD symptoms at 3-month follow-up (g = 0.697) and 6-month follow-up (g = 0.848). The single-group trials analysis revealed that the VRET intervention had a significant effect on PTSD. Limitations: Many of the combat-related PTSD subjects resulted in uncertainty regarding meta-analytical estimates and subsequent conclusions. Conclusions: These findings demonstrated that VRET could produce significant PTSD symptoms reduction and supported its application in treating PTSD.
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U2 - 10.1016/j.jad.2019.07.086
DO - 10.1016/j.jad.2019.07.086
M3 - Review article
C2 - 31382122
AN - SCOPUS:85071710609
SN - 0165-0327
VL - 257
SP - 698
EP - 709
JO - Journal of Affective Disorders
JF - Journal of Affective Disorders
ER -