Playing with Pain: A Literature Review of Table-top Role-playing Games in Therapy and their Treatment of Trauma and PTSD.

Abstract

Complex trauma and trauma-aligned disorders such as post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and Complex- PTSD (C-PTSD) have been surrounded by a debate about the treatment guidelines that are often prescribed for their symptoms (Bisson & Olff, 2021; Bleiberg & Markowitz, 2019; Kilpatrick, 2005; Wilson, 2024). Though many treatments have emerged and been analyzed to be extremely helpful, some alternative formats have been researched and recommended as well in order to help others with lesser resources or ability to utilize mental health resources (Bisson & Olff, 2021; Mendoza, 2021; Wilson, 2024). One of the treatments that has been researched but seems to be under-utilized is exposure therapy in the form of role-playing games, or RPGs and the many ways of playing in them (Abbott, 2021; Bean & Connell, 2023; Mendoza, 2021; Wilson, 2024). There is evidence that many of the techniques used in RPGs, specifically table-top RPGs like Dungeons and Dragons, can be utilized intentionally in a therapeutic setting in order to effectively treat PTSD and complex trauma (Mendoza, 2021; Wilson, 2024). Some of these techniques include imaginal exposure, group therapy interaction, emotional regulation skills, and social skill teaching (Abbott, 2019; Wilson, 2024). These skills are helpful in treating the issues that may arise in PTSD and C-PTSD patients.