Remote Delivery of a Brief Visuospatial Interference Intervention to Reduce Intrusive Memories of Trauma

Study Overview
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Brief Summary
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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
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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.

Official Title
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Remote Delivery of a Brief Visuospatial Interference Intervention to Reduce Intrusive Memories Among Trauma Exposed Women: A Feasibility Study

Conditions
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Trauma

Intervention / Treatment
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* Behavioral: Visuospatial Interference


Participation Criteria
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Eligibility Criteria
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Inclusion Criteria: Having experienced at least one criterion A trauma according to the DSM-5 Having at least two intrusive memories over the previous week Reporting being bothered by intrusive memories over the past month (scoring at least a moderate or higher score on PCL-5 item 1) Being able and willing to complete 3-9 sessions with researcher Being willing to monitor intrusive memories in daily life Having access to a smartphone Being able to speak Icelandic and read study materials in Icelandic Exclusion Criteria: Current psychotic disorder (determined by the psychotic module on the Mini International Neuropsychiatric Interview (MINI)) Current manic episode (determined by the bipolar module on the Mini International Neuropsychiatric Interview (MINI)) Being acutely suicidal (according to the module assessing suicidality on the Mini International Neuropsychiatric Interview (MINI))

Ages Eligible for Study
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Minimum Age: 18 Years
Maximum Age: 69 Years

Sexes Eligible for Study
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Female

Accepts Healthy Volunteers
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No

Study Plan
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How is the study designed?
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Design Details

Primary Purpose: Treatment
Intervention Model: Single Group Assignment
Masking: None (Open Label)


Arms and Interventions

| Participant Group/Arm | Intervention/Treatment |
| --- | --- |
| Experimental: Trauma exposed women<br>No Intervention: Baseline phase ('A'): Measurements collected in a daily diary four times a day (morning, afternoon, evening and night) over one week (number of intrusive memories of trauma). Individual baseline phases will be used as control periods for the primary outcome. Experimental: Intervention phase ('B'): Measurements collected in a daily diary four times a day during the fifth week after the second intervention session for the primary outcome (number of intrusive memories of trauma). | Behavioral: Visuospatial Interference<br>* 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).<br>* Other names: Brief cognitive intervention;|

What is the study measuring?
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Primary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Change in the total number of intrusive memories of trauma | Total number of intrusive memories of traumatic event recorded by participants in a diary daily (morning, afternoon, evening and night) during the fifth week after the second intervention session (Week 5), compared to in the baseline week (Week -1). | Week 5 compared to Baseline (Week -1) | 

Secondary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Change in the total number of intrusive memories of trauma | Total number of intrusive memories of traumatic event recorded by participants in a diary daily (morning, afternoon, evening and night) during the week of receiving the first two intervention sessions (Week 0), the subsequent four weeks (Weeks 1-4) and a 3-month follow-up, compared to in the baseline week (Week -1). | Weeks 0-4 and 3-month follow-up compared to Baseline (Week -1) | 
| Unwanted Memories of Trauma (UMT) | 6 self-rated items measuring the frequency of unwanted memories of the trauma in the previous week on a 7-point scale (from never to many times a day) and the level of distress, nowness, reliving, disconnectedness and whether different triggers are associated with the unwanted memories of the trauma on a 11-point scale (from 0 to 100). High scores indicate more unwanted memories, higher levels of distress/nowness/reliving/disconnectedness and more different triggers. | Baseline (Week -1), Week 1, 1-month and 3-month follow-ups | 
| The Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Checklist 5 (PCL-5) | The PCL-5 is a short 20-item self-report scale used to assess the severity of PTSD symptoms corresponding to the DSM-5 criteria for PTSD. Symptoms are rated from 0-4. Higher scores indicate greater severity. | Baseline (Week -1), Week 1, 1-month and 3-month follow-ups | 
| The Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) | The PHQ-9 is a 9-item self-report measure of depression symptoms and the severity of those symptoms. Each item is scored from 0 (i.e., not at all) to 3 (i.e., nearly every day). | Baseline (Week -1), Week 1, 1-month and 3-month follow-ups | 
| The Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7 scale (GAD-7) | The GAD-7 is a brief self-report questionnaire designed as a screening tool for symptoms of general anxiety disorder and their severity. Each item is scored from 0 (i.e., not at all) to 3 (i.e., nearly every day). | Baseline (Week -1), Week 1, 1-month and 3-month follow-ups | 
| The Sheehan Disability Scale (SDS) | The SDS is a self-report questionnaire which is designed to assess functional impairment across three domains: (1) Work/school, (2) social, and (3) family life. These domains are measured on an 11-point scale which ranges from 0 (i.e., not at all) to 10 (i.e., extremely). The scale will be adjusted to assess impairment associated with intrusive memories. | Baseline (Week -1), Week 1, 1-month and 3-month follow-ups | 
| The World Health Organization Disability Assessment Schedule 2.0 (WHODAS 2.0) | The WHODAS 2.0 is a 12-item self-rated questionnaire measuring difficulties due to health conditions, including mental or emotional problems (with reference to study event). Scores range from 1 (none) to 5 (extremely/cannot do). The maximum score of the WHODAS is 60; lower scores indicate better functioning. | Baseline (Week -1), Week 1, 1-month and 3-month follow-ups | 
| Impact of intrusive memories on concentration, sleep and stress - ratings | Six self-rated items to assess the impact of intrusive memories on concentration, sleep, and stress in the past week. 2 items assessing concentration difficulties in general and due to intrusive memories (11-point scale; high scores indicating more difficulties). 2 items assessing sleep disturbances due to intrusive memories (11-point scale; higher scores indicating more sleep disturbance); and 1 item assessing to what degree intrusive memories affected stress levels (0 = not at all; 10 = affected very much). | Baseline (Week -1), Week 1, 1-month and 3-month follow-ups | 
| Rating of how long intrusive memories disrupted concentration on average | One item assessing for how long intrusive memories disrupted concentration on average on a 6-point scale (0 = <1 minute - 6 = > 60 minutes) | Baseline (Week -1), Week 1, 1-month and 3-month follow-ups | 
| Impact of intrusive memories on functioning | Two questions assessing the impact intrusive memories have on functioning in daily life. One question is open-ended: Have the intrusive memories affected your ability to function in your daily life in the past week? If yes, how? and one question is self-rated: Have the intrusive memories affected your ability to function in your daily life? (11-point scale, higher score indicate greater impact on functioning.) | Baseline (Week -1), Week 1, 1-month and 3-month follow-ups | 
| General impact of intrusive memories - ratings | Two items both rated on an 11-point scale: 1. During the last week, how distressing were your intrusive memories (0 = not at all; 10 = very distressing). 2. During the last week, how vivid were your intrusive memories (0 = not at all; 10= very vivid). Administered as part of the intrusive memory diary. | Baseline (Week -1), Weeks 0-5, 3-month follow-up | 

 Terms related to the study
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Keywords Provided by Centre Hospitalier Valida
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Intrusive memories