Development and adaptation of virtual reality tools for PTSD and place-attachment treatment in Israel after the October 7th attacks

The October 7 attacks caused significant psychological trauma among Israeli soldiers and civilians. Virtual reality (VR) has shown promise in PTSD treatment, particularly through BraveMind, a validated Prolonged Exposure (PE) VR system developed for U.S. veterans. This formative study examined how existing VR tools can be adapted to the Israeli context and extended beyond exposure to include place-attachment-based therapy for displaced civilians. Seven experienced clinicians participated in a focus-group evaluation of two systems: the original U.S.-based BraveMind and a newly developed place-attachment VR prototype (Re-PAVeR). Participants individually experienced brief VR exposures and completed questionnaires assessing presence, user experience, and perceived clinical utility, followed by a structured group discussion. Clinicians reported a strong sense of presence and positive attitudes toward VR-based interventions. They emphasized the importance of cultural, geographical, and operational adaptations to reflect Israeli combat and civilian trauma and highlighted the potential of attachment-based VR environments for addressing grief and loss among evacuees. Based on extensive prior validation of BraveMind and the present expert feedback, the findings support further development and contextual adaptation of VR-based interventions for PTSD treatment in Israel.