Communications in Humanities Research ISSN: 2753-7072
Home> Volumes> Volume CHR Vol.110> Article
Research Article

Research and Analysis on the Application of VR Technology in the Treatment of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder

Hang QiTianjin Nankai High School*

* Corresponding author: [email protected]

Abstract

Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a common clinical psychiatric disorder. Traditional treatments are limited by difficulties in scenario reconstruction, low patient compliance, and insufficient controllability during intervention. Virtual reality (VR) technology has been widely used in clinical PTSD intervention owing to its advantages of immersive scene construction, multi-sensory interaction, and precise controllability. This paper reviews the application of VR technology in PTSD treatment, expounds the technical principles, clinical application, and efficacy evidence of virtual reality exposure therapy (VRET), sorts out the challenges in technology implementation such as hardware cost, clinical standardization, and ethical safety, and prospects the directions of technology integration, standardized treatment, and inclusive application. Studies show that VRET can significantly improve the core symptoms of PTSD, with better safety and compliance than traditional exposure therapy, and possesses favorable clinical promotion value. This paper systematically summarizes the research findings of VR-assisted PTSD treatment, providing theoretical references and practical bases for clinical psychotherapy and the development of immersive healthcare.

Keywords: Virtual reality; Post-traumatic stress disorder; Virtual reality exposure therapy; Psychotherapy; Immersive healthcare
Published: June 8, 2026
DOI: 10.54254/2753-7064/2026.BJ34154
Volume: CHR Vol.110
pp. 145-149
Download PDF

References

  1. Chinese Society of Psychiatry (2022) Clinical Practice Guideline for Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (2022 Edition). Chinese Journal of Internal Medicine, 55(3), 161-168.
  2. Chen, Y.T. and Zhao, X.D. (2024) Clinical Progress of Immersive VR Combined with CBT in the Treatment of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder. Advances in Psychological Science, 32(2), 275-283.
  3. Li, M.Q., Wang, J. and Liu, Y. (2023) A Meta-Analysis of the Efficacy of Virtual Reality Exposure Therapy (VRET) in the Intervention of PTSD. Chinese Mental Health Journal, 37(6), 489-496.
  4. Chang, Y.C. and Arifin H. (2025) Meta-analysis: Virtual reality exposure therapy for core PTSD symptoms. Journal of Global Health, 15(2), 03105.
  5. Rothbaum, B.O. and Rizzo, A.S. (2018) Virtual reality exposure therapy for military PTSD: Long-term follow-up study. Journal of Traumatic Stress, 31(4), 521-529.
  6. Difede, J. and Hoffman, H.G. (2020) VR exposure for disaster-related PTSD: Clinical trial evidence. Cyberpsychology, Behavior, and Social Networking, 23(9), 601-608.
  7. Wu, J.N. and Zhou, M. (2023) A Practical Study on the Application of Domestic VR Technology in the Intervention of Post-Disaster PTSD Groups. Chinese Journal of Clinical Psychology, 31(4), 987-992.
  8. National Health Commission of the People's Republic of China (2024) White Paper on the Development of Digital Healthcare in the Field of Mental Health (2024). Beijing: National Health Commission of the People's Republic of China.
  9. Heo, S. and Park J.H. (2024) Efficacy and safety of VRET in adolescent PTSD: A systematic review. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 21(18), 13692.
  10. Liu, B.W. and He, R. (2025) Mechanism Prospect of Brain-Computer Interface Integrated with VR Technology for Optimizing Precise PTSD Intervention. Journal of Biomedical Engineering, 42(1), 182-190.
  11. Garcia, M. and Rodriguez, L. (2022) Long-term efficacy of VR intervention on chronic refractory PTSD. Journal of Clinical Psychology, 78(12), 2145-2158.
  12. Zhang, L. and Sun, H. (2025) Application of Low-Power Lightweight VR Equipment in Primary PTSD Screening and Intervention. Chinese Journal of Primary Medicine and Pharmacy, 32(5), 721-726.
  13. Wang, S. and Lin, H. (2024) Ethical Risks of VR Psychotherapy and Specifications for Patient Data Privacy Protection. Chinese Medical Ethics, 38(7), 812-817.
  14. Lee, S. and Park, H. (2021) Ethical challenges of immersive VR in trauma-focused psychotherapy. Journal of Medical Ethics, 47(5), 324-329.
  15. Smith, J. and Johnson, K. (2019) Randomized controlled trial of VRET versus traditional in-vivo exposure for PTSD. Journal of Clinical Psychiatry, 80(3), 189-195.