Development of a prevention tool through resource optimization following the early identification of post-traumatic stress disorder. – RESTORE

The objective of the RESTORE project is to develop a prevention tool for military personnel identified as being at risk of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) through the D STRESS tool, the initial project from which this request originates.
It is essential to prevent PTSD, a common disorder among military personnel (35% to 70%) due to repeated exposure to traumatic events in the course of their professional duties. The goal is to prevent severe complications, including suicide risk, while maintaining operational capacity.
To meet the needs of the Army, which have become even more pressing in the context of high-intensity conflict, prevention actions must meet the following criteria:
1. Be effective
2. Gain the adherence of military personnel
3. Not require the constant intervention of a psychiatrist to avoid stigmatization
4. Be easily deployable in the form of short training sessions
5. Be available on a scale that meets the needs of military regiments
To our knowledge, no existing solution meets these requirements.
We therefore propose developing the RESTORE tool, which is scientifically based on the findings of the D STRESS project. This project demonstrated the role of heart rate variability (HRV) and electrodermal conductance (EDC) in detecting individuals with sub-threshold PTSD (i.e., the presence of PTSD symptoms without meeting the full diagnostic criteria). The project is led by the startup MyReVe, in collaboration with IRBA (the Armed Forces Biomedical Research Institute), LIP/PC2S, and CNAM (Task 1: Consortium Coordination).
The RESTORE tool will be based on two principles:
1. Strengthening heart rate variability and electrodermal conductance, which are dependent on the autonomic nervous system
2. Enhancing interoception through sensory stimulation in virtual reality and haptic (sensory) feedback based on physiological responses (HRV and EDC)
The virtual reality environment and physiological measurements will be synchronized to create an embodied biofeedback system. The specifications for this tool will be defined in Task 2, with development carried out in Task 3.
Our prevention program must ensure the adherence of military personnel. To achieve this, several elements will be considered:
1. Sessions will be short and limited in number
2. A user experience (UX) approach will be integrated into the tool's design (Task 4)
3. The equipment used will be easy to operate and transport (low-tech)
4. The RESTORE prevention tool will be integrated with the D STRESS detection tool (Task 5)
The innovation of our project is fourfold:
1. Technological – Use of virtual reality
2. Scientific – Implementation of dual biofeedback (HRV + EDC)
3. Technical – Integration of virtual reality with biofeedback (HRV + EDC) and a vest equipped with haptic motors
4. Application-based – Development of an automated PTSD prevention tool
This project aligns with the priorities of personalized preventive medicine and supports the international roadmap for embodied prevention in medicine.
Beyond military applications, the RESTORE tool could also be used by at-risk civilian populations who are regularly exposed to potentially traumatic events in their professional activities (e.g., firefighters, first responders, NGO personnel) or civilians in the context of mass traumatic events (e.g., terrorist attacks or natural disasters).