Reducing intrusive memories of trauma using a visuospatial interference intervention with inpatients with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: The core clinical feature of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is recurrent intrusive memories of trauma. This study aimed to test a novel and simple intervention, inspired by the concepts of concurrent task interference and memory reconsolidation, to reduce the occurrence of intrusive memories among inpatients with complex PTSD. METHOD: In this open-label single case series 20 patients with longstanding complex PTSD in inpatient treatment monitored the occurrence of intrusive trauma memories (intrusions) over the course of their admission (5 to 10 weeks). Patients received study-specific intervention sessions (including a memory reminder for a specific intrusion then 25 min Tetris gameplay) on a weekly basis. A within-subjects multiple baseline AB design was used, in that the length of baseline ("A," preintervention, monitoring only) and postintervention ("B") phases varied within-subjects across individual intrusions. Further, some intrusions were never targeted by the intervention. The study was registered prior to analysis, ISRCTN34320836. RESULTS: Frequency of targeted intrusions reduced by on average 64% from baseline to the postintervention phase. Conversely, never-targeted intrusions reduced in frequency by on average 11% over a comparable time-period. Of the 20 patients, 16 met our criteria for showing "response" to the intervention. CONCLUSIONS: Results provide initial evidence that this brief behavioral procedure might reduce the occurrence of intrusive traumatic memories in longstanding and complex PTSD, here delivered in an inpatient setting. The potential of this simple, focused intervention opens up new possibilities for tackling a core clinical symptom of PTSD, warranting further research. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2018 APA, all rights reserved).
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Early-stage translational work moving similar protocols used in the laboratory to the clinic are starting to show promise, with an example since this review was conducted for older intrusive memories after complex trauma.
“Early-stage translational work moving similar protocols used in the laboratory to the clinic are starting to show promise. An example since this review was conducted is for older intrusive memories after complex trauma (Kessler et al., 2018).”
From Intrusive memories of trauma: A target for research bridging cognitive science and its clinical application (2019) · cites this paper as Kessler et al., 2018
PTSD patients showed a steep decline of fear symptoms after receiving a reconsolidation-based intervention during which patients were required to rate the extent to which the expectations of their response to trauma re-exposure had been violated.
“Similarly, PTSD patients showed a steep decline of fear symptoms after receiving a reconsolidation-based intervention during which patients were required to rate the extent to which the expectations of their response to trauma re-exposure had been violated (Kindt and van Emmerik, 2016; Kessler et al., 2018).”
From Retrieval-Dependent Mechanisms Affecting Emotional Memory Persistence: Reconsolidation, Extinction, and the Space in Between (2020) · cites this paper as Kessler et al., 2018
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- Authors
- Kessler, H., Holmes, E. A., Blackwell, S. E., Schmidt, A.-C., Schweer, J. M., Bücker, A., Herpertz, S., Axmacher, N., & Kehyayan, A.
- Affiliations
- LWL-Universitätsklinikum Bochum (DE)
- Karolinska Institutet (SE)
- Ruhr University Bochum (DE)
- Venue
- Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology
- Published
- 2018-12
- Volume
- 86
- Issue
- 12
- Pages
- 1076-1090
- ISSN
- 0022-006X (ISSN-L)
- 1939-2117
- OpenAlex
- W2902900989
- Cited by
- 104
- References
- 19
- Citations by year
- 2026: 8 · 2025: 12 · 2024: 15 · 2023: 16 · 2022: 14 · 2021: 14 · 2020: 14 · 2019: 7 · 2018: 3 · 2012: 1
- FWCI
- 11.18
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Research
- Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cognitive Neuroscience › Memory Processes and Influences
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Psychoanalysis and Psychopathology Research
- Keywords
- post-traumatic stress disorder, complex PTSD, intrusive memories, memory reconsolidation, dual-task interference, inpatient care, behavioral interventions
- MeSH terms
- Adult, Behavior Therapy, Female, Humans, Inpatients, Male, Memory, Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic, Therapy, Computer-Assisted, Video Games
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