Improving Therapy for Post Traumatic Stress Disorder Patients Using Oculus Rift Virtual Reality Technology

The upcoming public release of the Oculus Rift (©2015 Oculus VR, LLC) Virtual Reality Headset has attracted national attention. Although public regard has been mainly focused on the Rift’s entertainment purposes in gaming and movies, this technology has sparked the interest of many scientists since its prototypical release in 2012. Most significant of all is the vast range of possibilities that comes with virtual reality headsets. For example, PTSD is a fairly common mental disorder that affects millions of Americans daily. The Oculus Rift technology has the capability to be used to treat patients suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder, as an exposuretherapy technique. I support whole heartedly that the Oculus Rift can be successfully used to treat PTSD, as well as dozens of other psychological ailments. The world today has developed a casual attitude towards those suffering from mental disorders, as if they do not equal the importance of physical disorders. This flippancy must come to an end. We must help those who need help, by making virtual reality therapy a feasible option for patients, through development, resources, and funding.