Page 648 - Total War on PTSD

treatment progress. This package of controllable multi-sensory stimulus options was included in the design of BRAVEMIND system to allow a clinician the flexibility to engage users across a wide range of unique and highly customizable levels of exposure intensity. As well, these same features have broadened its applicability as a research tool for studies that require systematic control of stimulus presentation within combat relevant environments. The system has been deployed to over 100 VA Medical Centers, university clinics, and Army, Navy and Air Force medical centers to treat PTSD patients and is available to clinicians who can document their training in trauma-focused approaches like PE. A direct link to a YouTube channel with videos that illustrate features of this system and of former patients discussing their experience with the VRET approach can be found at: http://www.youtube.com/user/AlbertSkipRizzo.
The BRAVEMIND system is now further evolved to address the unique therapeutic needs of combat medics/corpsmen and persons who have experienced Military Sexual Trauma (MST) with PTSD. This is of particular relevance for SMs who may face trauma from both the threat that is naturally inherent in the combat theater, as well as from the possible additive occurrence of sexual violations from within the ranks. Thus, MST can produce additional risk for the development of PTSD in a population that is already at high risk due to the existing occupational hazards present in the combat environment. This is an issue of significant concern for the Department of Defense (DoD). Thus, in addition to efforts aimed at reducing the incidence of MST with novel education and prevention programs, the U.S. Army funded the expansion of
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