iACToR Weekly Newsletter #22

[James Cullen]

Opening Statement

Hello iACToR members,

Call for Attendance
Virtual Reality Assisted Exposure Therapy in the Prevention and Treatment of PTSD and Related Conditions
February 12th, 2011
9 AM - 5 PM
Newport Beach Marriott Hotel & Spa
Newport Beach, California Organizers:
Interactive Media Institute
International Association of CyberPsychology, Training, & Rehabilitation’s Military Special Interest Group

Speakers:
James L. Spira, PhD, MPH, ABPP

Description:
The aim of this American Psychological Association Continuing Education (APA-CE) workshop is to introduce clinicians to the use of Virtual Reality systems and physiological monitoring in order to facilitate exposure-based treatment of PTSD, including combat and civilian in origin. Three major approaches to exposure will be discussed, with strengths and weaknesses of each reviewed and demonstrated. These include approaches that emphasize:

1. Maintaining Maximum Exposure/Arousal (such as Prolonged Exposure)
2. Gradual Exposure (such as Systematic Desensitization and Biofeedback)
3. Training in Attentional Engagement and Arousal Control in order to Control One's Reactivity to Arousing Stimuli (such as Stress Inoculation Training).

All three have the intention to reduce posttraumatic stress, improve sleep and social engagement, and return to work functioning. Cognitive (attentional) and autonomic control techniques will be taught to be able to be used with a variety of therapeutic modalities, and for inter-session practice by patients. The use of imagery as a supplement to or in place of VR will be taught for clinicians without access to VR equipment. Hands-on demonstrations of the VR and physiological protocol will be included.

8-hours of APA Continuing Education credits will be provided to all in attendance at the end of the meeting.

Registration:
To register and be a part of this exciting event, please visit the link:
http://bit.ly/ib6efn

For further information, please contact IMI”s Director of Global Communications, James Cullen, at [e-mail].

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Top CyberPsychology News

Call for Abstracts – 16th Annual CyberPsychology and CyberTherapy Conference
This year the Interactive Media Institute (IMI) and Université du Québec en Outaouais (UQO) are organizing the 16th Annual CyberPsychology and CyberTherapy Conference (CT16), the official conference of the International Association of CyberPsychology, Training, & Rehabilitation (iACToR). IMI and UQO are proud to announce the first call for abstracts CT16. The abstract submission deadline is January 15th, 2011. To submit an abstract please visit http://www.interactivemediainstitute.com/CT16

Virtual Reality
The Times of Malta – December 21, 2010 - A patient with balance disorders wearing a special headwear that uses virtual reality during a therapy session in Montevideo, Uruguay, yesterday. Uruguayan Medicaa company developed a Balance Rehabilitation Unit – made out of a virtual reality headgear with an inertial unit and dedicated software – to treat patients with these disorders by means of a therapy called “Motor Coordination Retraining”. Medicaa recently signed a distribution contract with Danish company Interacoustics. To read more, please visit http://bit.ly/ib0ELe
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Thank you all and I look forward to shaping our community with your help and valuable input!

Create your own reality!

Brenda K. Wiederhold, PhD, MBA, BCIA
Secretary General
International Association of CyberPsychology, Training, & Rehabilitation (iACToR)