A Computational Agent Model for Post-Traumatic Stress Disorders

In this paper a computational agent model is presented that describes and mimics processing in persons with a Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). The model is based on insights from the neurological literature on how specific phenomena that are typical for PTSD patients can occur, such as re-experiencing the strong feeling related to the original traumatic event, dissociation (not feeling the own body), and flashbacks in the form of images. A number of simulations is presented that show how the agent model displays these phenomena of reexperiencing, dissociation and flashback episodes, triggered by a neutral stimulus. The obtained cognitive/affective agent model can be used as a basis for the design of human-like virtual agents in simulation-based training or in gaming or virtual stories.