Alexian Brothers Introduces 'Virtual Iraq':
3-D Combat Simulator to Help Veterans
Cope with Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder
Iraq war veteran and Illinois Department of Veterans' Affairs Director, Tammy Duckworth, presented Veteran's Cash grant for the wartime simulator known as 'Virtual Iraq'. According to Dr. Patrick McGrath, director of the Center for Anxiety and Obsessive Compulsive Disorders (OCD) at Alexian Brothers Behavioral Health Hospital, Virtual Iraq is a graphic representation of what it is like to be in Iraq from the perspective of a soldier. It is the first hospital in Illinois to use the technology.
As featured on MSNBC, and in the Chicago Tribune and Daily Herald, the system engages various senses using a vibrating floor platform, virtual reality goggles, large earphones and a machine that emits scents reminiscent of war zones. Dr. McGrath explains that by gradually exposing individuals to the sensations that trigger their anxiety, the simulator helps them get used to loud noises and stressful situations and learn to handle them without anger, violence or panic. That, in turn, should help reduce symptoms like insomnia and flashbacks... Read full story
For more information about the program,
please call the Alexian Brothers PTSD Virtual Reality Lab at 847-230-3509.
