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Bringing Exposure Therapy to Real Life Context with Augmented Reality and Telepsychiatry
ExpandXR is a patented, AI-enhanced augmented reality (AR) platform developed at the STARC to deliver real-world, function-focused exposure therapy for PTSD, social anxiety disorders, and other anxiety disorders. The system allows patients to engage in realistic social and occupational scenarios—such as grocery shopping, dining, or workplace interactions—directly within their own physical environment while maintaining continuous visual contact with their therapist. Using a library of diverse, AI-driven human characters and therapist-controlled scene generation, ExpandXR enables highly individualized exposures that adapt to each patient’s needs in real time. AI characters can role-play to help patients practice specific unique human encounters. Built for clinical settings with minimal training requirements, the platform supports generalization of treatment gains beyond the clinic and addresses a critical gap between symptom reduction and meaningful everyday functioning.
In collaboration with the Apple, this technology is currently being used in our clinic and early adapting clinics, and ongoing clinical trials with veterans and others with PTSD.
We are open to collaboration. Contact us if interested!
To learn more click here:
ExpandXR
Frontline Strong Together
This State funded effort represents a partnership between WSU Dept of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neurosciences, and the Unions representing Police Officers, Fire Fighters, EMT’s, Paramedics, Correctional Officers, and Dispatchers across the 83 Michigan Counties.
The aim of this project is to address work related stress, trauma and PTSD among first responders and their families by development of comprehensive behavioral and mental health education program, training and treatment to strengthen, and improve work-life resiliency, career longevity and prevention of disruptive symptoms of overwhelming stress levels
Programs address both acute and chronic stress factors, offering Interventions and education utilizing academic and researched methodologies that will utilize both in-person and virtual approaches as well as an interactive web-based resource portal for interested parties.
STARC is involved in providing training, treatment, and development of augmented reality and telemedicine technologies for treatment of PTSD among first responders.
Stress Risk and Resilience in Syrian and Iraqi Refugees and Survivors of Torture
The Syria and Iraq Civil Wars have exposed millions of civilians to extreme physical and emotional trauma. However, little is known about the mental health impact on refugee children.
In this study we have been following a cohort of 400 children and adult refugees resettling in Southeast Michigan and have established the prevalence of PTSD, anxiety, and depression.
We have also been researching environmental, inflammatory, genetic (the first Middle Eastern cohort in Psychiatric Genetic Consortium), somatic, and family correlates of stress among refugees.
Funded by an NICHD R01 grant, we are currently examining the environmental, biomarker (epigenetic, autonomic: startle response and skin conductance response), and family correlates of illness course among the refugee children and their parents.
A Dose-Response Study of the Effects of High Intensity Interval Training on Stress, Anxiety, Depression, and Cellular Aging
This study is examining the effects of high intensity interval training (HIIT) - specifically group-based fitness boxing - on perceived stress, anxiety, depression, somatic symptoms, and genetic aging.
We are leveraging a partnership with TITLE Boxing Club, the world’s largest fitness boxing franchise with more than 150 branches across the U.S., to access a large and diverse population of physically healthy adults.
If you like what you see and would like to help us continue our work, you can make donations here!
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