A virtual reality paradigm as an analogue to real-life trauma: its effectiveness compared with the trauma film paradigm

Abstract

Background: The trauma film paradigm (TFP) is a well-established method to study the effects of analogue psychological trauma under controlled laboratory settings. It has been used to examine pre-, peri-, and post-trauma processes, and to create and test interventions. A possible drawback is that watching films is a somewhat passive endeavour that lacks active behavioural engagement. Virtual reality (VR) may provide a better alternative. Like the TFP, VR allows for experimental control. In addition, it can induce a greater 'feeling of presence' and allows interaction with the environment, enabling research on action-reaction associations. Objective: We aimed to validate the utility of a VR paradigm as an experimental model to study psychological trauma by comparing its effectiveness with the TFP. Method: One group of participants (N = 25) was shown an aversive film, and another group (N = 25) moved through a VR scene. Main outcome measures were intrusion frequency assessed with a 7-day diary and self-rated vividness and emotionality of recalled memories related to the film or VR scene. Results:The results indicate that the film and VR scene were equally effective in inducing vivid and intrusive memories. However, self-reported emotional intensity appeared to be higher for memories related to the film than for memories related to the VR scene. Conclusions: Perhaps the film was more effective in inducing emotional memories than the VR scene due to its more aversive content. However, the VR scene seemed equally effective in inducing vivid and intrusive memories, and merits further exploration in light of ethical considerations (less aversive content) and other presumably beneficial qualities (e.g. inducing a greater feeling of presence and allowing interaction with the environment).

The role of tonic immobility and control in the development of intrusive memories after experimental trauma

“…Future studies may explore whether TI also affects voluntary memory. For example, a previous study found different effects on vividness and emotionality of voluntary recollections but not on the frequency of involuntary intrusive memories (Cuperus, Klaassen, Hagenaars, & Engelhard, 2017).…”

Too Real to Be Virtual: Autonomic and EEG Responses to Extreme Stress Scenarios in Virtual Reality

“…Due to the negative effects on the emotional and physical state of the subjects, it is necessary to follow strict ethical requirements, and it is also difficult to attract subjects to participate in such study. Investigations of pre-, peri-, and posttraumatic processes in the VR paradigm have revealed that VR content induces traumatic stress [23], and they also showed that stressful VR content causes mild stress symptoms, such as those related to trauma thoughts and beliefs, intrusion, and avoidance behavior [24,25]. The assumption that people with OCD, PTSD, and psychotic disorders are more vulnerable to cybersickness has previously been put forward, but when tested, conflicting results were received.…”

Systematic search of Bayesian statistics in the field of psychotraumatology

“…Cuperus, Klaassen, Hagenaars, and Engelhard (2016) evaluated informative hypotheses using BIEMS regarding the use of virtual reality (VR) in the TFP using BFs. With the TFP, the effects of psychological trauma can be studied under controlled experimental settings.…”