Treating PTSD with Virtual Reality coupled with Odor Emittance

 Treating PTSD with Virtual Reality coupled with Odor Emittance

Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is a disorder that individuals can develop after experiencing dangerous, fearful, and life-changing events. Individuals can experience varying levels of PTSD and the effects can differ from one individual to another. Many studies attempt to identify and explain the long-lasting effects of PTSD and how it alters the physiology of the brain. Other studies are focused on finding ways to eliminate or reduce the effects of PTSD. These treatments may include Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT), Prolonged Exposure Therapy (PE), medication, etc. (Bhandari, 2020). Researchers are actively proposing new treatments ideas that may be more accessible and reliable. Within the past few years, there have been recent studies that explore the topic of virtual reality (VR) and how sensory programming may support those with PTSD and aid in rehabilitation. VR works by targeting the visual and auditory senses to display a rendered reality within a headset. For the treatment of PTSD, VR can render past events that aid in modifying behaviors and emotions that can lead to better visualization of their traumatic events. With this more detailed understanding of their trauma, the individuals suffering can better communicate their trauma and receive the proper care.

The recounting of memories can be unpredictable and unreliable. It has been shown that odor assists in memory recall both negatively and positively. In the study, "Odor modulates the temporal dynamics of fear memory consolidation," (Grella et. al, 2020), researchers questioned the reasoning for why some memories, mainly those related to PTSD or fear, are less schematized and retain more detail. They hypothesized that odor was the cause and that odors can trigger the reorganization of fear-related memories during the encoding process. Researchers found that there is a correlation between odor and the re-organization of fear-related memories. This shows us that odor can trigger not only memories in general but can specifically target memories related to fear and PTSD events. In another study, it is shown that various odors can trigger positive memories that aid in the “decrease negative mood states, disrupt cravings, and reduce physiological indices of stress, including systemic markers of inflammation” (Herz, 2016). In Herz’s study, “The Role of Odor-Evoked Memory in Psychological and Physiological Health”, she compiles multiple different studies that show how “odors can be harnessed to induce emotional and physiological responses that can improve human health and wellbeing” (Herz, 2016).

In a study done by Mary P. Aiken and Mike J. Berry, they reviewed the effects that odor has on memory recollection and the sensory overtake that virtual reality can cause. The study is called “Posttraumatic stress disorder: possibilities for olfaction and virtual reality exposure therapy”, in this, they do not directly provide results for how VR can improve symptoms related to PTSD but rather speculates on an odor coupled therapy with VR. The study mentions the “role of sensory stimulation in VR has highlighted olfactory stimulation as a potentially powerful yet underutilized therapeutic tool”, suggesting the unidentified roles of olfactory stimulation. The study then provides an experimental design that shows the progression of virtual reality and odor stimulation as it relates to technology. Through these experiments and future studies, the role of modern technology such as virtual reality could be greatly beneficial in therapies. This is especially beneficial as it relates to PTSD and its long-lasting effects on psychological and physiological beings.

Works Cited

Aiken, Mary P., and Mike J. Berry. “Posttraumatic Stress Disorder: Possibilities for Olfaction and Virtual Reality Exposure Therapy - Virtual Reality.” SpringerLink, Springer London, 11 Feb. 2015, https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10055-015-0260-x#citeas.

Grella, Stephanie L., et al. “Odor Modulates the Temporal Dynamics of Fear Memory Consolidation.” BioRxiv, Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, 1 Jan. 2019, https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1101/2019.12.19.881615v1.full.

Herz, Rachel S. “The Role of Odor-Evoked Memory in Psychological and Physiological Health.” Brain sciences vol. 6,3 22. 19 Jul. 2016, doi:10.3390/brainsci6030022

“How Virtual Reality Therapy Impacts Veterans.” Bradley University Online, 5 Apr. 2019, https://onlinedegrees.bradley.edu/blog/how-virtual-reality-therapy-impacts-veterans-with-ptsd/.

“6 Common Treatments for PTSD (Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder).” Edited by Smitha Bhandari, WebMD, WebMD, 21 Jan. 2020, https://www.webmd.com/mental-health/what-are-treatments-for-posttraumatic-stress-disorder.