Treatment of Addictions

3P technology in virtual reality

Already in 2022, Prof. Dr. Steffen Moritz and his team from the University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf published interesting videos and information materials on retraining and the 3P technique.

What does 3P stand for?

> Pull > Pause > Push

Essentially, it is about the patient provoking a certain craving for the addictive substance in question by imagining almost consuming it (pull), but then throwing the addictive substance away from themselves with energetic movements (push). This completely new movement can rewrite the learned behavior. Studies have shown that both cravings and consumption could be significantly reduced.

Above all, due to the push, this technique is practically only possible in sensu, i.e. through the patient’s own imagination.

This is where virtual reality can offer added value. Interacting with the addictive substances, i.e. enjoying them and then throwing them away, is also possible with appropriately programmed VR content.

Patients therefore have a clear and detailed picture in front of them and can concentrate fully on the action. Overriding the behavior may work even better if the push can be experienced with greater liveliness and detail. A comparative study would of course be very interesting here.

In our video we show you how you can implement the 3P technique with VR therapy.

In our video you can see some examples of how you can implement the 3P technique with our VR-Coach smart system.

It should be emphasized that a video only allows a 2D representation, but the impression in three-dimensional VR glasses is much more intense and realistic. In addition, the first two steps “Pull” and “Pause” should take a few seconds longer than the very quick sequence in this video.

A disadvantage of virtual reality is that in everyday clinical practice you do not have the opportunity to have the patient perform this exercise several times a day, although it is recommended three times a day. From our point of view, it would make sense to first introduce the patient to this method in virtual reality and have them perform the repetitions in sensu.

Application in group sessions

Virtual reality also offers a special opportunity in group sessions: Since the 3Ps only take a few minutes, all group members can do this exercise within one session. The VR system can be connected to a television or a projector. This allows all participants to follow what is happening in the glasses.

TIP:
If the “push” always takes place with the applause of the other group members, this higher emotionalization could lead to an even stronger overriding of the behavior.