PTSD: Virtual Reality Therapy Part Two: Condemnation

Phillip Leveque has spent his life as a Combat Infantryman, Physician Pharmacologist and Toxicologist.

(MOLALLA, Ore.) - I previously posted in Part One that as a PTSD victim, an observer in battle, and a physician taking care of over 400 PTSD Vet victims, that I felt Virtual Reality Therapy (VRT) would not work for the most seriously affected PTSD Vet victims, although it might for minimally or moderately affected victims.

As a physician taking care of these patients after they have given up and absolutely rejected VA treatment, I have accepted what these VA "rejects" have said. These Vets have told me of the excessive variety and amount of medications tried on them as human "guinea pigs" which usually made them worse from the adverse side effects. Even newspapers and TV news have indicated about one thousand Vet suicides per month from VA medical malpractice.

The concept that Virtual Reality Therapy for PTSD probably has some value for minimally affected victims but for severe "rubber room" victims it certainly has no place. These are the most needful patients. It appears that the success with minimally-affected Vets has given the psychology therapists the psychological chutzpah to assume that VRT would work for the most seriously affected PTSD victims.

Whether these psychologists have been able to back and forth "talk" with extremely serious PTSD victims in the 7-8-9-10 category, I doubt it. They are so bad they can't even endure seeing the word PTSD.

I was astonished to see on my computer 43 pages of stories indicating the great promise of VRT (did they have good Public Relations personnel?). Ok, I'll accept that for the minimally affected Vets.

I also looked up Vets comments on VA pharmaceutical therapy which rarely had an even slightly warm comment. Some of the comments about the psychoneurotic wards in Walter Reed Hospital made me cringe in disbelief. The rest appear not much better.

I know from my own experience as a Combat Infantryman in World War II that alcoholic or nicotine use for temporary escapes from battle were what helped keep us going. I have known about cannabis/marijuana as similar medicine for about 60 years.

When my 400 or so Vietnam Vets told me that cannabis gave better relief than Army medications or beer or booze, I paid attention. Some will say to use Marinol which is pure THC and legal medicine. However, it's not the same as the natural substance and produces a large amount of "panic attacks" and paranoia in the 10mg dose. It is used orally and once it is absorbed, panic attacks can continue for several hours. Unlike this, inhaled vapors (NOT SMOKE) can be easily adjusted to effective dosage.

Now, Nov 5th, 2008, Michigan has become the 13th state approving/allowing medical cannabis/marijuana. We are approaching one million legal medical cannabis users. With the U.S. Govt saying some 70 million use it illegally (for medical purposes).

It is time for the U.S. Govt. employees to get over their REEFER MADNESS and regard cannabis/marijuana as the very useful/successful medicine that it is.

In the meantime, millions of Vets and their families are suffering. PTSD is the worst sequel of battle and the VA is "supposed" to be taking care of us. WHAT A DISGRACE.

More information on the history of Dr. Leveque can be found in his book, General Patton's Dogface Soldier of WWII about his own experiences "from a foxhole".
Order the book by mail by following this link: Dogface Soldier

Watch for more streaming video question and answer segments about medical marijuana with Bonnie King and Dr. Phil Leveque.

Click on this link for other articles and video segments about PTSD and medical marijuana on Salem-News.com:
Dr. Leveque INTERVIEWS & ARTICLES

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PTSD November 12, 2008 10:39 am (Pacific time)

Albert as a Vietnam veteran dealing with PTSD I am glad you are offering something besides some of the current treatments that have failed many veterans. Over the years I have found that actual combat veterans respond successfully to maybe one specific treatment (usually just briefly) where others fail by a similar approach. Though I have not kept an empirical database, I have found that most combat veterans ("combat" being the operative word, there are a lot of phonies out there faking it!) have had a higher quality of life when they have maintained either a one on one therapeutic relationship or one based on a group. I have known people who have used alcohol, marijuana, diazpam(sp?) and other drugs (talking decades...from 60's) and have simply had very low quality lives. I do know people who have tried your treatment, some benefited and some did not. All attempts to improve the lives of those suffering from PTSD are welcome for if some form of treatment will help just one then it's worth it. It is unfortuante that people need to ridicule those who are trying to help. Good luck to you. Note: I am close friends with several combat veterans who went to medical school after returning from Vietnam and each one of them who worked for the VA left that organization because they simply could not deal with their treatment protocols. All of them I am in contact with also endorse one on one or group therapeutic relationships. No alcohol and no drugs (unless there is a specific need, e.g. bi-polar, clinical depression or whatever.

Albert Rizzo November 10, 2008 6:22 pm (Pacific time)

Feel free to look up anything you want on my ethical and legal connection to DMW. This is a company that has nothing to do with my PTSD research. Back in 2001, I developed an Attention assessment tool with them using VR for children with ADHD in an effort to reduce improper diagnosis and unneeded/abusive administration of pharmaceuticals to children. You guys remind me of the republicans before the recent election, when they couldnt toss anything of any substance at Obama, they went on the character attacks. Futile and Primitive, and just what I would expect with your little group of sycophants, Dr. Philly. Just get your facts straight for our debate, so that you dont end up embarassing yourself too much.

Subvet416 November 10, 2008 10:38 am (Pacific time)

Dr. Leveque, Go for that debate! Before you do, research Dr. Rizzo's connection to Digital Media Works, Inc. He is a vice-president of this firm which stands to profit from government contracts for VR programs. This is as unethical as the payments psychiatrists have been receiving from drug companies while doing government-funded research. Senator Grassley has had a number of them up before Congress in the past few months. Perhaps the Senator should look into the "promising" VR "treatments" which are being marketed to the public, the VA and DOD with the exact same methods that have been used to promote psychiatric drugs, which have now been found to have no value for those with PTSD.

Steve Manire, DC November 7, 2008 4:26 pm (Pacific time)

Dr. Phil, please check out this other effective alternative treatment: www.StressProject.org I participate in this project, and the results are quite astounding. Thanks.

AM November 7, 2008 12:20 pm (Pacific time)

What would also be nice would be for the VA to actually answer the phone or return calls when a soldier is reaching out and trying to get help. How about not losing the paperwork also...

G/2-3 November 7, 2008 6:31 am (Pacific time)

that's right Doc!, keep preaching the word. I got it so bad it's off the f-ing scale and if it hadn't been for ganja I'd be a V A medicated useless pile of humanity, drugged beyond functional participation, I hope the govt. opens their brains, ears, and heart, which I occasionally hear they possess.

Albert Rizzo November 6, 2008 11:42 pm (Pacific time)

I challenge you to a public debate on the issue of VR Exposure Therapy....you have continued to make inane comments and evaluations that go well beyond your expertise. Instead of hiding behind the cyberwall that this platform provides to allow you to toss out uninformed "pot shots" about a treatment approach that has already made a difference for our wounded warriors, I challenge you to an open and public debate. Your commentaries thus far about this emerging treatment are outdated at best, and ethically irresponsible at worst. I will be in Tacoma at Ft. Lewis in January. You pick a good public forum, perhaps a radio station or whatever, and we will clear the air with a debate and let the world decide for itself. As soon as I hear back from you on possible dates, I will attempt to plan my visit to Ft. Lewis around this. Dr. Albert Rizzo

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PTSD: Virtual Reality Therapy Part Two: Condemnation

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