'Interreality' may enhance stress therapies

By Krystnell Storr NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - Using virtual reality to add “real world” challenges to psychotherapy sessions may enhance the treatment’s effect for people learning to cope with workplace stress, according to a small study from Italy. Researchers say the hybrid therapy known as “interreality” was more effective than traditional cognitive behavioral therapy, which is currently considered the gold standard for more serious anxiety or post traumatic stress disorders. Exposure to prolonged stress is known to increase the risk of physical and mental health problems, including depression and disabling anxiety conditions,” said Dr. Andrea Gaggioli from the Istituto Auxologico Italiano in Milan, who led the study. “In particular, work-related stress is responsible for around one fifth of staff turnover, with negative implications for the productivity of organizations.



via Health News Headlines - Yahoo News http://ift.tt/1uDzf68