Using VR-based interventions, wearable technology, and text mining to improve military and Veteran mental health
Journal of Military Veteran and Family Health, vol. 6, pp. 26–35
Abstract
Introduction: Virtual reality (VR)-based interventions, wearable technology and text mining hold promising potential for advancing the way in which military and Veteran mental health conditions are diagnosed and treated. They have the ability to improve treatment protocol adherence, assist in the detection of mental health conditions, enhance resilience and increase a patient’s motivation to continue therapy. Methods: This article explores five cutting-edge research projects designed to leverage VR-based interventions, wearable technology, and text mining to improve military and Veteran mental health. A computer-animated virtual agent provides online coaching for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) patients in their own homes to enhance treatment compliance. A head-mounted display safely immerses PTSD patients in a virtual world to relive past experiences and associate them with new meanings. Gaming and simulation technology are tested as a way to improve resilience and performance in military members in deployment-related scenarios. Guidelines are developed for the creation of wearable assistive technology for military members and Veterans. Text mining is explored as a way to assist in the detection of PTSD. Results: VR-based therapy, gaming and simulation, wearable assistive and sensory technology, and text mining hold promise for diagnosing, monitoring, and treating military mental health conditions. Discussion: The five research projects presented have made promising contributions to the field of military and Veteran mental health, either by advancing diagnostic trajectories, contributing to therapy or enhancing the process by developing new approaches to delivering preventive or curative care.
Authors 8
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Eric H. G. J. M. Vermetten corresponding Aachen Military Mental Health Research Netherlandsc ARQ National Psychotrauma Center
Leiden University Medical Center · Arq Psychotrauma Expert Group · Ministry of Defence · Delft University of Technology
Affiliation as printed
ARQ National Psychotrauma Center, Diemen, the Netherlands
Department of Interactive Intelligence, Delft University of Technology, Delft, the Netherlands
Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, the Netherlands
Military Mental Health Research, Ministry of Defense, Utrecht, the Netherlands
Simulation Center, Dutch Armed Forces, Amersfoort, the Netherlands
Military Mental Health Research, Ministry of Defense, Utrecht, the Netherlandsb Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, the Netherlandsc ARQ National Psychotrauma Center, Diemen, the Netherlands
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Myrthe Lotte Tielman Aachen
Leiden University Medical Center · Arq Psychotrauma Expert Group · Ministry of Defence · Delft University of Technology
Affiliation as printed
ARQ National Psychotrauma Center, Diemen, the Netherlands
Department of Interactive Intelligence, Delft University of Technology, Delft, the Netherlands
Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, the Netherlands
Military Mental Health Research, Ministry of Defense, Utrecht, the Netherlands
Simulation Center, Dutch Armed Forces, Amersfoort, the Netherlands
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Ewout van Dort Aachen
Leiden University Medical Center · Arq Psychotrauma Expert Group · Ministry of Defence · Delft University of Technology
Affiliation as printed
ARQ National Psychotrauma Center, Diemen, the Netherlands
Department of Interactive Intelligence, Delft University of Technology, Delft, the Netherlands
Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, the Netherlands
Military Mental Health Research, Ministry of Defense, Utrecht, the Netherlands
Simulation Center, Dutch Armed Forces, Amersfoort, the Netherlands
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Olaf Binsch Aachen
Netherlands Organisation for Applied Scientific Research · Leiden University Medical Center · Arq Psychotrauma Expert Group · Ministry of Defence · Delft University of Technology
Affiliation as printed
ARQ National Psychotrauma Center, Diemen, the Netherlands
Department of Interactive Intelligence, Delft University of Technology, Delft, the Netherlands
Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, the Netherlands
Military Mental Health Research, Ministry of Defense, Utrecht, the Netherlands
Simulation Center, Dutch Armed Forces, Amersfoort, the Netherlands
Netherlands Organization of Applied Scientific Research, Department of Human Factors, Soesterberg, the Netherlands
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Marco C. Rozendaal Aachen
Leiden University Medical Center · Arq Psychotrauma Expert Group · Ministry of Defence · Delft University of Technology
Affiliation as printed
ARQ National Psychotrauma Center, Diemen, the Netherlands
Department of Interactive Intelligence, Delft University of Technology, Delft, the Netherlands
Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, the Netherlands
Military Mental Health Research, Ministry of Defense, Utrecht, the Netherlands
Simulation Center, Dutch Armed Forces, Amersfoort, the Netherlands
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Bernard P. Veldkamp Aachen
Leiden University Medical Center · Arq Psychotrauma Expert Group · Ministry of Defence · University of Twente · Delft University of Technology
Affiliation as printed
ARQ National Psychotrauma Center, Diemen, the Netherlands
Department of Interactive Intelligence, Delft University of Technology, Delft, the Netherlands
Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, the Netherlands
Military Mental Health Research, Ministry of Defense, Utrecht, the Netherlands
Simulation Center, Dutch Armed Forces, Amersfoort, the Netherlands
Department of Research Methodology, Measurement and Data Analysis, Technical University Twente, Enschede, the Netherlands
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Gary H. Wynn Aachen
Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences · Leiden University Medical Center · Arq Psychotrauma Expert Group · Ministry of Defence · Delft University of Technology
Affiliation as printed
ARQ National Psychotrauma Center, Diemen, the Netherlands
Department of Interactive Intelligence, Delft University of Technology, Delft, the Netherlands
Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, the Netherlands
Military Mental Health Research, Ministry of Defense, Utrecht, the Netherlands
Simulation Center, Dutch Armed Forces, Amersfoort, the Netherlands
Center for the Study of Traumatic Stress, Department of Psychiatry, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, Bethesda, Maryland
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Rakesh Jetly Aachen
Department of National Defence · Canadian Armed Forces · Leiden University Medical Center · Government of Canada · Arq Psychotrauma Expert Group · Ministry of Defence · Delft University of Technology
Affiliation as printed
ARQ National Psychotrauma Center, Diemen, the Netherlands
Department of Interactive Intelligence, Delft University of Technology, Delft, the Netherlands
Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, the Netherlands
Military Mental Health Research, Ministry of Defense, Utrecht, the Netherlands
Simulation Center, Dutch Armed Forces, Amersfoort, the Netherlands
Canadian Forces Health Services Group, Department of National Defence, Government of Canada, Ottawa
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