Virtual Reality and Post Traumatic Stress

360° Video consists of video recordings, made with a camera to simultaneously capture and combine scenes in a 360 degrees perspective such as Instant Google Street View Instant Google Street View (instantstreetview.com). When uploaded to a VR headset, 360° videos may provide a more cost-effective method for rapidly creating virtual environments in which users can experience a sense of immersion and the viewer can control and change the viewing angle at any stage through head movement. While photorealism may be superior, this option is known to be less interactive as the viewer can't move or walk around within the virtual space. In addition, the landscape and imagery may have been changed or developed meaning the recordings captured do not match the traumatic memory. Despite these limitations, the use of 360° video has been trialled in clinical mental health settings showing positive outcomes for both user and clinician.

VR Photoscan creates immersive virtual environments by transforming real-world imagery into detailed 3D models. Using high-resolution images captured from a smartphone, these images are processed in 3D graphics software to sculpt realistic virtual scenes. The resulting 3D models are imported into a game engine, adding VR functionality, allowing users to navigate freely with six degrees of freedom. Interactive content, such as animated cars and people, can be added in real-time, while menu systems guide users through the experience. Environmental factors like lighting, weather, and time of day can be adjusted to simulate real conditions. Spatial 360° audio enhances immersion, providing sounds from various directions. This VR environment creation process is efficient and cost-effective, requiring no specialised equipment, and ensuring high-quality immersive experiences at minimal production time and cost.

Ehlers and Clark's model follows the general style of reliving (recommended by NICE) suggested by Foa and Rothbaum with some fluidity and in vivo exposure (i.e., trauma site visit). During the treatment process of reliving, clients are asked to close their eyes and intentionally recall the traumatic memories, i.e., relive the trauma in their mind in detail and narrate their experience in present tense, including recalling images, sensory experiences, thoughts, and feelings. VR-based PTSD treatments can promote emotional engagement and the process of trauma via providing visual, auditory, and haptic sensory cues.