Reducing intrusive memories of childhood trauma using a visuospatial intervention : Case study in iceland

• Published in: JMIR Formative Research
• Main Authors: Thorarinsdottir, Kristjana, Holmes, Emily A., Hardarson, Johann, Hedinsdottir, Unnur, Kanstrup, Marie, Singh, Laura, Hauksdóttir, Arna, Halldórsdóttir, Þórhildur, Guðmundsdóttir, Berglind, Valdimarsdóttir, Unnur Anna, Þórðardóttir, Edda Björk, Gamble, Beau, Björnsson, Andri Steinþór
• Other Authors: Faculty of Medicine, Department of Psychology, Mental Health Services, Faculty of Psychology, Health Sciences
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: 2021
• Subjects: Sálræn áföll; Tilfellalýsing; Minningar; Myndmál; Farsímar; Case report; Intrusive memories; Mental imagery; Mobile phone; Psychological trauma; Tetris gameplay; Visuospatial interference task; Health Informatics; Medicine (miscellaneous); Charity; Iceland
• Online Access: https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11815/3043; https://doi.org/10.2196/29873

Funding Information: EAH received funding from the Oak Foundation (OCAY-18-442) and from the Swedish Research Council (2020-00873) in support of this study; EAH also received funding from AFA Insurance (200342) and the Lupina Foundation. AB received funding from the Icelandic Research Fund (11709-0270). UV received funding to establish the stress and gene analysis (SAGA) cohort from the European Research Council (StressGene, grant 726413) and the Icelandic Research Fund (grant 163362-051). EBT reports funding from the Icelandic Research Fund (185287-051). LS received funding from the Swiss National Science Foundation (P2BEP1_184378) and a Thunberg Fellowship from the Swedish Collegium for Advanced Study. EAH reports serving on the board of the charity MQ: Transforming Mental Health (UK). She also receives book royalties from Oxford University Press (Imagery and Cognitive Therapy) and Guilford Press (Imagery-Based Cognitive Therapy for Bipolar Disorder and Mood Instability) and occasional fees from clinical workshops and conference keynotes. Publisher Copyright: © 2021 JMIR Publications Inc. Background: Additional interventions are needed for survivors of psychological trauma because of several barriers to and limitations of existing treatment options (eg, need to talk about the trauma in detail). Case studies are an important step in exploring the development of novel interventions, allowing detailed examination of individual responses to treatment over time. Here, we present a case study that aims to test a novel intervention designed to disrupt memory reconsolidation, taking a single-symptom approach by focusing on intrusive memories of a traumatic event. Objective: This study aims to examine a novel brief cognitive intervention to reduce the number of intrusive memories of trauma in an Icelandic setting and to extend previous studies by examining long-term effects for up to 3 months. The intervention was guided by a clinical psychologist and comprised a brief memory reminder, followed by Tetris gameplay ...