Sue Halpern’s “Virtual Iraq”-Abstract

Many of America’s troops return home from war with Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). This debilitating condition makes returning to everyday life difficult, as they are still affected by the horrors of war. Author Sue Halpern documents the case of “Travis Boyd” a marine with PTSD who participated in “Virtual Iraq”. As one may assume, Virtual Iraq is computer simulation of what soldiers experience overseas. It is hoped that by reliving the traumatic event they will “disconnect the memory from the reactions to the memory” (Halpern 119). By detaching the reaction from the memory they can return to a more stable life (Halpern 119).
‘Virtual Iraq’ was created using a modified version of the video game “Full Spectrum Warrior” (Halpern 122). However, it extends beyond a simple visual recreation of war. Sue Halpern tested Virtual Iraq and noted that the experience is also focused on appealing to “aural, tactile, [and] olfactory” senses. The other sense used so that “the immersion in the environment is nearly absolute”, and therefore more realistic (Halpren123). For example, patients sit in a chair over a “bass shaker” so the patient feels they are in a Humvee that is under attack (Halpren 126).
At the end of his treatment “Travis Boyd” noticed significant improvements in coping with his PTSD. He stated that “he was able to sleep without medication” and no longer blamed himself for the dead of his team leader (Halpren 128).
The use of virtual reality to treat those with PTSD is a groundbreaking treatment. As “Travis Boyd” asserted, the soldiers that are serving in Iraq are part of the “video-game generation” (Halpren 118). Due to the familiarity with virtual reality the treatment brings a degree of comfort. With graphics and technology only improving, it is possible that virtual reality treatment will become more affective in aiding those with PTSD.