Digital Eye-Movement Intervention Using Trauma-Related and Neutral Images to Reduce Intrusive Memories in PTSD

What This Trial Is About

Researchers are studying a new digital cognitive intervention designed to reduce intrusive traumatic memories in people who have experienced severe trauma and meet criteria for post-traumatic stress disorder PTSD. The study compares three types of visual cues paired with eye movements to assess their impact on the frequency of intrusive memories and other PTSD-related symptoms. This is a randomized clinical trial aiming to find less distressing treatment options than traditional therapies that require explicit trauma recall. Participants will be assigned to one of three groups, each receiving the eye-movement intervention combined with different image sets pre-selected trauma-related images chosen by the research team, personalized trauma-related images provided by the participant, or neutral images without trauma content. The intervention is delivered online, with images presented subliminally during the eye-movement tasks. The study includes a baseline period followed by multiple post-intervention assessments. During the study, participants will complete diaries and questionnaires to track the number of intrusive memories and PTSD severity at several time points, including baseline, various days during the intervention period, and up to two months after the last intervention. Researchers will also monitor depression, anxiety, borderline symptoms, functional improvement, and intervention distress. The total study duration extends to about 73 days, with data collected through an online platform under remote supervision.

A Digital Cognitive Intervention for Intrusive Memories After Trauma