Reducing intrusive memories of trauma using a visuospatial interference intervention with inpatients with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

2018 ◽  
Vol 86 (12) ◽  
pp. 1076-1090 ◽  
Author(s):  
Henrik Kessler ◽  
Emily A. Holmes ◽  
Simon E. Blackwell ◽  
Anna-Christine Schmidt ◽  
Johanna M. Schweer ◽  
...  

2006 ◽  
Vol 20 (3) ◽  
pp. 328-341 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anne E.M. Speckens ◽  
Anke Ehlers ◽  
Ann Hackmann ◽  
David M. Clark


Science ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 367 (6479) ◽  
pp. eaay8477 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alison Mary ◽  
Jacques Dayan ◽  
Giovanni Leone ◽  
Charlotte Postel ◽  
Florence Fraisse ◽  
...  

In the aftermath of trauma, little is known about why the unwanted and unbidden recollection of traumatic memories persists in some individuals but not others. We implemented neutral and inoffensive intrusive memories in the laboratory in a group of 102 individuals exposed to the 2015 Paris terrorist attacks and 73 nonexposed individuals, who were not in Paris during the attacks. While reexperiencing these intrusive memories, nonexposed individuals and exposed individuals without posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) could adaptively suppress memory activity, but exposed individuals with PTSD could not. These findings suggest that the capacity to suppress memory is central to positive posttraumatic adaptation. A generalized disruption of the memory control system could explain the maladaptive and unsuccessful suppression attempts often seen in PTSD, and this disruption should be targeted by specific treatments.



2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anthony D Mancini ◽  
Laura Aldrich ◽  
Alina Shevorykin ◽  
Serena Veith ◽  
Grace John

Background: The appraisal of a stressor influences how we adapt to it. We used an experimental paradigm to test and replicate the effects of threat appraisals on subsequent intrusive memories, as well as their moderation by neuroticism. Method: In three studies (total N = 562; 77.6% female; mean age = 18.45), we randomly assigned participants to an aversive or control video, assessed threat appraisals of the video, and assessed intrusive memories of the video at one, three, five, and seven days. Results: Using a robust causal mediational framework, we found that threat appraisals fully mediated the effect of the video on intrusive memories (studies 1 – 3), and for people higher in neuroticism, the causal mediational pathway was stronger (study 1 and 2). Conclusions: These findings indicate threat appraisals have causal effects on subsequent intrusive memories and neuroticism enhances this effect, lending empirical support to appraisal theories of posttraumatic stress disorder.



2010 ◽  
Vol 218 (2) ◽  
pp. 64-70 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lena Jelinek ◽  
Sarah Randjbar ◽  
Michael Kellner ◽  
Angnes Untiedt ◽  
Jana Volkert ◽  
...  

Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is characterized by vivid intrusive memories of the trauma. Among these, visual sensations of the trauma are most commonly reported. However, intrusions may involve other senses as well (e.g., acoustic, olfactory, or bodily sensations). It has been proposed that enhanced mental imagery may predispose individuals with traumatic experiences to intrusions and ultimately to PTSD. A total of 58 victims of interpersonal violence with current (n = 20), past (n = 19), and no lifetime PTSD (n = 19) as well as non-traumatized controls (n = 23) were assessed with the Vividness of Visual Imagery Questionnaire (VVIQ) and a modality-specific imagery questionnaire. Moreover, the sensory quality of the traumatic intrusions was assessed in traumatized participants. Participants with recovered PTSD displayed less overall mental imagery than the other three groups who were indistinguishable. No relation was found between the modality-specific mental imagery and the sensory quality of the intrusions. The impact of mental imagery on intrusive memories in PTSD is complex. Less mental imagery appears beneficial in the recovery process, but does not prevent the development of intrusive symptoms in the first place. Further investigation of perceptual and memory vividness as well imagery control (i.e., to sustain, modify, or terminate an image) also including trauma-related material may be important for trauma-specific interventions.





2021 ◽  
Vol 1 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Amalia Badawi ◽  
Zachary Steel ◽  
Christopher Mahoney ◽  
David Berle

AbstractVisuospatial cognitive tasks that influence memory reconsolidation may be of benefit in reducing intrusive memories for traumatic events when used as an adjunct to trauma-focused psychotherapy. We conducted a feasibility assessment of a protocol that involved the use of a visuospatial cognitive task, the Tetris intervention, alongside routine exposure-based treatment for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Participants were inpatients attending for PTSD treatment at a psychiatric hospital. The Tetris intervention was administered on three occasions when imaginal exposure had formed part of the treatment session. Using a phone app, participants also monitored intrusive memories over a 3-week period. Feasibility outcomes were fully met for the demand, implementation, practicality and adaptability criteria. Only a single criterion was not met for each of the acceptability and implementation criteria. Limited-efficacy testing outcomes are also discussed. Overall, the findings from our feasibility study indicated viability of the protocol, which involved implementation of the Tetris intervention alongside routine exposure-based treatment for PTSD, in a clinical inpatient setting.





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