ABSTRACT
Most people who suffer from posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) do not receive care (e.g., Kessler, Sonnega, Bromet, Hughes, & Nelson, 1995; Kulka et al., 1990). How can technology be used to make PTSD care more efficiently delivered and widely available and can the technology be exploited in an evidence-based manner? In this chapter, after briefly reviewing the epidemiology of PTSD and evidence-based psychological treatments for PTSD, we provide a summary and synthesis of the available evidence supporting the use of technology-assisted interventions for PTSD, including Web-based therapist-assisted interventions and virtual reality exposure therapy (VRET). Next, we discuss the advantages and challenges of using this approach with a PTSD population and offer a detailed description of a Web-based early intervention for Marines at risk for PTSD as a case example. We end with some practical suggestions for clinicians interested in technology-assisted intervention strategies.
