The efficacy of virtual reality exposure therapy for PTSD symptoms: A systematic review and meta-analysis

• Published in: Journal of affective disorders 2019-10, Vol.257, p.698-709
• Main Authors: Deng, Wenrui, Hu, Die, Xu, Sheng, Liu, Xiaoyu, Zhao, Jingwen, Chen, Qian, Liu, Jiayuan, Zhang, Zheng, Jiang, Wenxiu, Ma, Lijun, Hong, Xinyi, Cheng, Shengrong, Liu, Boya, Li, Xiaoming
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• ISSN: 0165-0327; 1573-2517
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jad.2019.07.086

•VRET has moderate positive effects on PTSD symptoms.•Effect sizes were significantly greater compared to inactive conditions.•A dose–response relationship existed with more sessions showing larger effects.•Significant long-range effects were detected at 6 and 12 month follow-up.•For depressive symptoms, VRET also has moderate positive effects. Virtual reality exposure therapy (VRET) for PTSD is an emerging treatment of remarkable promise, but its efficacy and safety are still unclear. Our aim was to investigate the efficacy of VRET for individuals with PTSD, and to identify the potential moderating variables associated with interventions. Literature search was conducted via PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, Cochrane Library, PsycInfo, Science Direct, and EBSCO. We identified 18 studies on PTSD including 13 randomized controlled trials (RCTs; 654 participants) and 5 single-group trials (60 participants). The main effects analysis showed a moderate effect size (g = 0.327, 95% CI: 0.105–0.550, p