Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

The Healing Potential of Online Virtual Worlds

  • Chapter
Advanced Computational Intelligence Paradigms in Healthcare 6. Virtual Reality in Psychotherapy, Rehabilitation, and Assessment

Part of the book series: Studies in Computational Intelligence ((SCI,volume 337))

Abstract

This chapter describes the research being done to create a healing center for veterans of recent conflicts in the online virtual world Second Life. This work, started in 2008 and funded by the US Army’s Research Office, is building a dedicated online virtual world space to provide not only social connectivity for widely dispersed veterans, but also to offer stress-reducing health care and activities, especially in the area of Complementary and Alternative Medicine. The social space is populated by several intelligent agent-avatars that serve various functions. For example, there is a knowledgeable guide that can show people the various activities and spaces the site has to offer, find out and store a list of the visitors’ interests, and keep a record of what they have seen and done. There are also intelligent agents who can provide guidance for certain activities such as walking a labyrinth, and a story activity called “The Warriors’ Journey.” Working with experts in Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR), we are implementing MBSR therapy in this Second Life space for veterans. These experts will run the in-world group sessions, inhabiting an avatar for this purpose. Experiments with returning veterans are planned for 2010 that will test the efficacy of such therapies deployed in the virtual world. We expect the use of virtual worlds for both group and individual therapies to increase in the future and this project is a first step in determining their viability.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Log in via an institution
Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 129.00
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD 169.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info
Hardcover Book
USD 169.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

Preview

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

References

  1. Ondrejka, C.: A Challenge for the Public Good. Blog post from The MacArthur Foundation’s Spotlight on Digital Media and Learning blog (Posted May 14, 2008), http://spotlight.macfound.org/blog/entry/cory_ondrejka_challenge_public_good/ (retrieved October 20, 2009)

  2. USC Annenberg Network Culture Project Press Release, USC’s Network Culture Project Awards More Than $1 Million Lindens for Second Life and the Public Good Community Challenge (Posted July 1, 2008), http://networkculture.usc.edu/insidencp/newsroom/8-news/63-uscs-network-culture-project-awards-more-than-1-million-lindens-for-second-life-and-the-public-good-community-challenge.html (retrieved July 20, 2008)

  3. Linden Lab, Announcement of criteria (2009), http://lindenlab.com/lindenprize (accessed July 30, 2009)

  4. Second Life Blogs (2009), Announcement of winners from: https://blogs.secondlife.com/community/features/blog/2009/04/30/the-linden-prize-goes-to-studio-wikitecture-and-virtual-ability

  5. Rand Corporation (Rand Health Division and Rand National Security Research Division). In: Tanielian, T., Jaycox, L.H. (eds.) Invisible Wounds of War: Psychological and Cognitive Injuries, Their Consequences, and Services to Assist Recovery, http://www.rand.org/multi/military/veterans (retrieved June 12, 2008)

  6. Rand, Invisible Wounds of War: p. 302 (2008)

    Google Scholar 

  7. Milliken, C.S., Auchterlonie, J.L., Hoge, C.W.: Longitudinal Assessment of Mental Health Problems Among Active and Reserve Component Soldiers Returning From the Iraq War. Journal of American Medical Association 298, 2141–2148 (2007)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  8. Gerardi, M., Rothbaum, B.O., Ressler, K., Heekin, M., Rizzo, A.A.: Virtual Reality Exposure Therapy Using a Virtual Iraq: Case Report. Journal of Traumatic Stress 21(2), 209–213 (2008)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  9. Rizzo, A.A., Rothbaum, B.O., Graap, K.: Virtual reality applications for combat-related posttraumatic stress disorder. In: Figley, C.R., Nash, W.P. (eds.) Combat Stress Injury: Theory, Research and Management, pp. 183–204. Routledge, New York (2007)

    Google Scholar 

  10. Rizzo, A., Pair, J., Graap, K., Manson, B., McNerney, P.J., Wiederhold, B., Wiederhold, M., Spira, J.: A Virtual Reality Exposure Therapy Application for Iraq War Military Personnel with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder: From Training to Toy to Treatment. In: Roy, M. (ed.) NATO Advanced Research Workshop on Novel Approaches to the Diagnosis and Treatment of Posttraumatic Stress Disorder, pp. 235–250. IOS Press, Washington (2006)

    Google Scholar 

  11. Rothbaum, B.O., Hodges, L., Alarcon, R., Ready, D., Shahar, F., Graap, K., et al.: Virtual reality exposure therapy for PTSD Vietnam Veterans: A case study. Journal of Traumatic Stress 12, 263–271 (1999)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  12. Van Etten, M.L., Taylor, S.: Comparative efficacy of treatments of post-traumatic stress disorder: An empirical review. Journal of the American Medical Association 268, 633–638 (1998)

    Google Scholar 

  13. Shachtman, N.: Walter Reed Using Yoga to Fight PTSD. Wired Magazine (May 6, 2008); Article about Yoga Nidra at Walter Reed

    Google Scholar 

  14. National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine. Cambasics (retrieved June 12, 2008), http://nccam.nih.gov

  15. Defense Center of Excellence for Psychological Health and Traumatic Brain Injury. Military Psychological Health Research – Complementary and Alternative Strategies. (retrieved June 12, 2008), http://www.health.mil/content/docs/pdfs/DCoE/DCoE%20BAA.pdf

  16. Bishop, S.R., Lau, M., Shapiro, S., Carlson, L., Anderson, N.D., Carmody, J., Segal, Z.V., Abby, S., Speca, M., Velting, D., Devins, G.: Mindfulness: A Proposed Operational Definition. Clinical Psychology and Scientific Practice 11, 230–241 (2004)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  17. Kabat-Zinn, J., Lipworth, L., Burney, R., Sellers, W.: Four year follow-up of a meditation-based program for the self-regulation of chronic pain: Treatment outcomes and compliance. Clinical Journal of Pain 2, 159–173 (1986)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  18. Kabat-Zinn, J., Massion, A.O., Kristeller, J., Peterson, L.G., Fletcher, K., Pbert, L., et al.: Effectiveness of a meditation-based stress reduction program in the treatment of anxiety disorders. American Journal of Psychiatry 149, 936–943 (1992)

    Google Scholar 

  19. Kabat-Zinn, J., Wheeler, E., Light, T., Skillings, A., Scharf, M., Cropley, T.G., et al.: Influence of a mindfulness-based stress reduction intervention on rates of skin clearing in patients with moderate to severe psoriasis undergoing photo- therapy (UVB) and photochemotherapy (PUVA). Psychosomatic Medicine 60, 625–632 (1998)

    Google Scholar 

  20. Richard, J., Davidson, R.J., Kabat-Zinn, J., Schumacher, J., Rosenkranz, M., Muller, D., Santorelli, S.F., Urbanowski, F., Harrington, A., Katherine Bonus, K., Sheridan, J.F.: Alterations in Brain and Immune Function Produced by Mindfulness Meditation. Psychosomatic Medicine 65, 564–570 (2003)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  21. Grossman, P., Niemann, L., Schmidt, S., Walach, H.: Mindfulness-based stress reduction and health benefits: A meta-analysis. Journal of Psychosomatic Research 57(1), 35–43 (2004)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  22. Jakupcak, M., Roberts, L.J., Martell, C., Mulick, P., Michael, S., Reed, R., et al.: A pilot study of behavioral activation for veterans with posttraumatic stress disorder. Journal of Traumatic Stress 19, 387–391 (2006)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  23. Tull, M.: Behavioral Activation for PTSD. At About.com (2008), http://ptsd.about.com/od/treatment/a/behavioralact.htm (accessed January 10, 2009)

  24. Yee, N., Bailenson, J.: The Proteus Effect: The Effect of Transformed Self-Representation on Behavior. Human Communication Research 33(3), 271–290 (2007)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  25. Fox, J.A., Bailenson, J.N.: Virtual self-modeling: The effects of vicarious reinforcement and identification on exercise behaviors. Media Psychology 12, 1–25 (2009)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  26. Greene, L., Lee, M.: The Social construction of empowerment. In: O’Melia, M., Miley, K. (eds.) Readings in Contextual Social Work Practice, pp. 175–201. Allyn and Bacon, Boston (2002)

    Google Scholar 

  27. Norman, J.: Constructive Narrative in Arresting The Impact of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder. Clinical Social Work Journal 28(3), 303–319 (2000)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  28. See more about this group at, http://www.realwarriors.net

  29. Gordon, A.: Story Based Learning Environments. In: The PSI Handbook of Virtual Environments for Training and Education: Developments for the Military and Beyond, pp. 382–383. Praeger Security International, Westport (2008)

    Google Scholar 

  30. McMillen, J.C.: Better for It: How People Benefit from Adversity. Social Work 44(5), 455–468 (1999)

    Google Scholar 

  31. Conversation with Coughran Mayo (Richard Dillon), (November 20, 2009) (in world)

    Google Scholar 

  32. The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Pioneer Portfolio. Exploring the Potential of the Web-based Virtual World of Second Life to Improve Substance Abuse Treatment Outcomes (2008), http://www.rwjf.org/files/research/3485.34428.pdf (accessed November 22, 2009)

  33. Enos, G.A.: Are Services in the virtual world near? Addiction Professional (2008), http://www.addictionpro.com/ME2/dirmod.asp?sid=&nm=&type=Publishing&mod=Publications:Article&mid=&tier=4&id=4EAEBA9918D64DF1941DE22DDE37190F (accessed October 12, 2009)

  34. Virtual Ability, The Amputee Virtual Environment Support Space. Press Release (2009), http://www.virtualabilities.org (accessed December 10, 2009)

  35. Kollock, P.: Design principles for online communities. PC Update 15(5), 58–60 (1998)

    Google Scholar 

  36. Kollock, P., Smith, M.: Introduction: Communities in Cyberspace. In: Smith, M., Kollock, P. (eds.) Communities in Cyberspace, pp. 3–25. Routledge, London (1999)

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute for Creative Technologies, University of Southern California, Marina Del Rey, CA, 90292

    Jacquelyn Ford Morie

Authors
  1. Jacquelyn Ford Morie
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Computer Information Systems, Missouri State University, 901 South National Avenue, 65804, Springfield, MO, USA

    Sheryl Brahnam

  2. Knowledge-based Engineering, University of South Australia, Mawson Lakes Campus, South Australia, Australia

    Lakhmi C. Jain

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2011 Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg

About this chapter

Cite this chapter

Morie, J.F. (2011). The Healing Potential of Online Virtual Worlds. In: Brahnam, S., Jain, L.C. (eds) Advanced Computational Intelligence Paradigms in Healthcare 6. Virtual Reality in Psychotherapy, Rehabilitation, and Assessment. Studies in Computational Intelligence, vol 337. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-17824-5_8

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-17824-5_8

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-642-17823-8

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-642-17824-5

  • eBook Packages: EngineeringEngineering (R0)

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Search

Navigation