IoT and Virtual Reality for the Treatment of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder Caused by Sexual Violence Using Prolonged Exposure Therapy

Puican K.; Luyo R.; Wong L. · Applications in Software Engineering - Proceedings of the 14th International Conference on Software Process Improvement, CIMPS 2025 (2025) · DOI: 10.1109/cimps69356.2025.11419696

Resumen

Between 2017 and 2022, more than 74,000 cases of sexual violence were reported in Peru, with an average of 34 complaints per day. Many of these cases lead to the development of post-traumatic stress disorder, for which traditional therapies present limitations. In response, this exploratory pilot study presents a therapeutic approach based on the use of virtual reality and internet of things technologies to support the treatment of patients who have experienced sexual violence and developed post-traumatic stress disorder, through the application of prolonged exposure therapy in immersive environments. The proposal includes four phases: (1) selection of prolonged exposure therapy, (2) design of the architecture and the technological solution, (3) development of the virtual reality environment, and (4) construction of a web application. The solution features gradually adjustable virtual scenarios, real-time physiological monitoring through wearable devices, and a web platform for clinical supervision. A preliminary validation with two patients showed increases of 30 and 14 heartbeats per minute compared to their baseline, indicating emotional activation consistent with the level of exposure. These initial results support the technical and therapeutic feasibility of the system, as well as its potential to offer more personalized, accessible, and scalable mental health interventions.

Instituciones: Universidad Peruana de Ciencias Aplicadas