APA Media Advisory

August 8, 2008
Contact: Audrey Hamilton
APA Public Affairs Office
(202) 336-5706
(617) 954-3992 (between 8/14-8/17)
(401) 529-8441 (cell)

TRAUMATIC STRESS: NEW TREATMENTS FOR CHILDREN AND WAR VETERANS

WHO: Albert Rizzo, PhD, University of Southern
California Institute for Creative Technologies
Carla Stover, PhD, Yale Child Study Center
Steven Berkowitz, MD, Yale Child Study Center
Richard Kagan, PhD, Parsons Child and Family Center, Albany, NY

WHAT: Presentations will examine new treatments for traumatic stress, including an experimental virtual reality therapy option designed to treat combat-related PTSD in soldiers returning from war.

WHERE: American Psychological Association's 116th Annual Convention
Boston Convention and Exhibition Center
415 Summer Street
Boston, MA 02210
Meeting Level 1, Meeting Room 157B

WHEN: Sunday, Aug. 17. Session 4065, 9:00 – 9:50 AM

BACKGROUND: Psychologists have played an integral role in developing new and innovative treatments to help reduce the incidence of traumatic stress in everyone from children to soldiers returning from war. Violent events such as motor vehicle accidents, sexual assault and abuse can dramatically impair a child's healthy development.

Rizzo will talk about the clinical trials of a treatment therapy called Virtual Iraq, which uses computer simulation as part of treatment for combat trauma. The software creates the illusion of being on a desert city street, similar to what can be found in Iraq. The Department of Defense is testing Virtual Iraq on active duty military personnel and veterans.

Stover and Berkowitz will describe a new treatment called "The Child and Family Traumatic Stress Intervention," which is proving to be a promising new tool to prevent the onset of PTSD in children who have experienced traumatic events.

Kagan will discuss the "Real Life Heroes" pilot study, an integrated attachment and trauma therapy for children in family service programs as well as for children in mental health and juvenile justice programs. It was developed for children who may not have a safe home or a caring guardian to help them deal with traumatic stress.

Disclaimer: The APA does not endorse any products used by presenters

The American Psychological Association (APA), in Washington, DC, is the largest scientific and professional organization representing psychology in the United States and is the world's largest association of psychologists. APA's membership includes more than 148,000 researchers, educators, clinicians, consultants and students. Through its divisions in 54 subfields of psychology and affiliations with 60 state, territorial and Canadian provincial associations, APA works to advance psychology as a science, as a profession and as a means of promoting health, education and human welfare.