{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,9,22]],"date-time":"2026-09-22T16:33:33Z","timestamp":1790094813156,"version":"4.0.1"},"reference-count":64,"publisher":"SAGE Publications","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2026,1,1]],"date-time":"2026-01-01T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1767225600000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by-nc\/4.0\/"},{"start":{"date-parts":[[2026,1,1]],"date-time":"2026-01-01T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1767225600000},"content-version":"tdm","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/journals.sagepub.com\/page\/policies\/text-and-data-mining-license"}],"content-domain":{"domain":["journals.sagepub.com"],"crossmark-restriction":true},"short-container-title":["INQUIRY"],"published-print":{"date-parts":[[2026,1]]},"abstract":"<jats:p>\n                    Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is often debilitating, with current treatments limited by low adherence, high costs, and accessibility issues. Innovative technologies such as virtual reality (VR), augmented reality (AR), and therapeutic video games provide immersive environments that may improve treatment outcomes. This systematic review and meta-analysis evaluated the efficacy of these approaches and explored their potential advantages over traditional methods. A comprehensive search of PubMed, PsycINFO, CINAHL, Web of Science, and Cochrane identified relevant studies. Two reviewers independently screened articles, extracted data, and assessed quality using the Mixed Methods Appraisal Tool (MMAT). A random-effects model was used to calculate pooled effect sizes (Hedges\u2019 g), and heterogeneity was evaluated with the\n                    <jats:italic toggle=\"yes\">Q<\/jats:italic>\n                    test and\n                    <jats:italic toggle=\"yes\">I<\/jats:italic>\n                    <jats:sup>2<\/jats:sup>\n                    statistic. Publication bias was examined with funnel plots, Egger\u2019s, and Begg\u2019s tests. Analyses were performed in Stata version 17.0. From 480 records, 21 studies were included in the review and 12 in the meta-analysis. VR-based treatments yielded a pooled effect size of \u20130.35 (95% CI [\u20130.57, \u20130.13]), indicating a small-to-moderate reduction in PTSD symptoms. The effect was statistically significant (\n                    <jats:italic toggle=\"yes\">z<\/jats:italic>\n                    \u2009=\u2009\u20133.13,\n                    <jats:italic toggle=\"yes\">P<\/jats:italic>\n                    \u2009&lt;\u2009.01), with moderate heterogeneity (\n                    <jats:italic toggle=\"yes\">I<\/jats:italic>\n                    <jats:sup>2<\/jats:sup>\n                    \u2009=\u200946.28%,\n                    <jats:italic toggle=\"yes\">P<\/jats:italic>\n                    \u2009=\u2009.03). Funnel plots and statistical tests suggested minimal publication bias. Meta-regression showed no moderating effect of gender. Subgroup analyses indicated significant benefits in male-only samples, participants aged 20 to 30 and over 40, and studies with follow-up periods\u2009\u22647\u2009months. Larger effects were observed in studies with 15 to 30 participants. VR, AR, and video game interventions significantly reduce PTSD symptoms and may enhance accessibility and engagement compared to traditional treatments. These findings support the integration of immersive technologies into therapeutic practice to improve outcomes for individuals with PTSD.\n                  <\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.1177\/00469580251413101","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2026,1,28]],"date-time":"2026-01-28T16:58:24Z","timestamp":1769619504000},"update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1177\/sage-journals-update-policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":3,"title":["Assessing the Impact of Virtual Reality, Augmented Reality, and Video Games on Improving Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder Symptoms: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis"],"prefix":"10.1177","volume":"63","author":[{"given":"Saeideh","family":"Goharinejad","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"Faculty of European Campus Rottal-Inn (ECRI), Deggendorf Institute of Technology, Pfarrkirchen, Germany"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0001-8565-3606","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Salime","family":"Goharinezhad","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"School of Health and Care Management, Arden University, Coventry, UK"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Khadijeh","family":"Moulaei","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Health Management and Economics Research Center, Health Management Research Institute, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran"},{"name":"Artificial Intelligence in Medical Sciences Research Center, Smart University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-1596-6487","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Bj\u00f6rn","family":"Kr\u00fcger","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Epileptology, University Hospital Bonn, Germany"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Thomas","family":"Spittler","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Faculty of European Campus Rottal-Inn (ECRI), Deggendorf Institute of Technology, Pfarrkirchen, Germany"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]}],"member":"179","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2026,1,28]]},"reference":[{"key":"e_1_3_3_2_2","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.3390\/ijerph19116474"},{"key":"e_1_3_3_3_2","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1177\/070674371405900902"},{"key":"e_1_3_3_4_2","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1186\/s12888-023-04716-w"},{"key":"e_1_3_3_5_2","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1017\/S0033291717000708"},{"key":"e_1_3_3_6_2","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.3390\/ijerph192416836"},{"key":"e_1_3_3_7_2","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1371\/journal.pmed.1003262"},{"key":"e_1_3_3_8_2","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1002\/wps.20656"},{"key":"e_1_3_3_9_2","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1016\/j.beth.2018.07.003"},{"key":"e_1_3_3_10_2","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1111\/jcpp.12983"},{"key":"e_1_3_3_11_2","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1016\/j.jad.2019.07.086"},{"key":"e_1_3_3_12_2","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.3390\/ijerph17176143"},{"key":"e_1_3_3_13_2","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1007\/s11920-022-01314-7"},{"key":"e_1_3_3_14_2","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1080\/20008066.2024.2418248"},{"key":"e_1_3_3_15_2","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.2196\/jmir.2104"},{"key":"e_1_3_3_16_2","article-title":"A systematic review on the efficacy of virtual reality and gamification interventions for managing anxiety and depression","volume":"5","author":"Jingili N","year":"2023","unstructured":"Jingili N, Oyelere SS, Nystr\u00f6m MBT, Anyshchenko L. 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