Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, or PSTD, is a common medical problem that soldiers must face after returning from the front lines.  With soldiers returning from the Iraq War, psychologists are using virtual reality software created by the University of Southern California’s Institute for Creative Technologies. 

The software will mainly be used to help psychologists study the effects of PSTD, according to the report, but it may ultimately help heal soldiers from the disorder, or even prevent PSTD from ever occurring if soldiers are redeployed into Iraq.  Virtual Iraq will recreate a soldier’s memory of a traumatic event within the environment and he or she will relive that event continuously until it becomes a memory, rather than a constant flashback that triggers PSTD. 

The technology will not replace talk therapy, according to Albert Rizzo, who helped develop the software.  However, it is an invaluable tool that will improve the chances of recovery.