Remote Delivery of a Brief Visuospatial Interference Intervention to Reduce Intrusive Memories of Trauma
Condition: Trauma
MeSH terms: Wounds and Injuries
Study type: Interventional

Summary: 
      This single case series feasibility study is designed to investigate the feasibility of
      remote recruitment and delivery of a brief visuospatial interference intervention for
      decreasing the number of intrusive memories of trauma among trauma-exposed women in Iceland.
      The current study is an extension on two studies already preregistered (NCT04209283 and
      NCT04342416) that included some aspects of in-person recruitment and/or intervention delivery
      (rather than fully remote as we aim for here). The intervention is a simple cognitive task (a
      memory cue followed by playing the computer game "Tetris") with accompanying information. A
      within-subjects multiple baseline AB design is used, in that the length of baseline ('A'; no
      intervention) and intervention ('B') phases vary within-subjects across individual intrusive
      trauma memories. Participants will aim to complete at least one week of the baseline ('A')
      phase followed by at least two intervention sessions with a researcher remotely (via
      telephone or secure video platform). Intervention sessions comprise the simple cognitive task
      alongside accompanying information presented in the form of brief animated videos (e.g.,
      explaining the target symptom). Participants are instructed that they may continue using the
      technique self-guided in subsequent weeks, and they may opt for additional intervention
      sessions with remote researcher support (maximum 6 intervention sessions). Participants will
      be asked to monitor the occurrence of intrusive memories of trauma in a daily diary. It is
      predicted that participants will report fewer total intrusive memories in the fifth week
      after the second intervention session (primary outcome) compared to in the first baseline
      week. The investigators will also explore whether the frequency of targeted intrusive
      memories is going to decrease relative to non-targeted intrusive memories. Furthermore, the
      investigators will explore whether having fewer intrusive memories is related to functioning
      and/or PTSD, depressive or anxiety symptoms.
    

Detailed description: 
      Participants complete a total of 3-9 sessions with researchers and sessions will be conducted
      remotely via telephone or secure video platform (Kara Connect). In the baseline session,
      questionnaires are administered and the individual intrusive trauma memories will be logged
      for monitoring their frequency in a daily diary. Participants will record their intrusive
      memories in the daily diary for at least one week (Week -1) before commencing the
      intervention. In the first intervention session, a memory will be selected and targeted with
      the intervention (memory reminder followed by 25 min gameplay with mental rotation). We aim
      to deliver a second intervention session soon after the first (within approx. one week),
      targeting the same or a different intrusive memory. Participants are instructed that they may
      continue using the technique self-guided after the first intervention session, and they may
      opt for additional intervention sessions with remote researcher support (maximum 6
      intervention sessions). Participants continue to monitor the frequency of both targeted and
      non-targeted intrusive memories in the daily diary throughout Weeks 0-5. Follow-up
      questionnaires are completed at Week 1, 1-month, and 3-months after the second intervention
      session. The primary outcome is change in total number of intrusive memories from the
      baseline week (Week -1) to the fifth week after the second intervention session (Week 5).
      Participants will also monitor the frequency of their intrusive memories for one week at the
      3-month follow-up. The investigators note that the intended time-frames may differ slightly
      across participants depending on availability and the practicalities of remote delivery.
    

Intervention name(s): Visuospatial Interference
Intervention type(s): Behavioral
Intervention description(s): Two remote intervention sessions with a researcher including a simple cognitive task (a memory cue and 25 minutes of Tetris game play with mental rotation) alongside accompanying information.
Participants are instructed that they may continue using the technique self-guided after the first intervention session, and they may opt for additional intervention sessions with remote researcher support (maximum 6 intervention sessions).
Other intervention name(s): Brief cognitive intervention
Intervention model: Single Group Assignment
Masking: None (Open Label)
Primary purpose: Treatment
Keywords: Intrusive memories