Preventing intrusive memories after trauma via a brief intervention involving Tetris computer game play in the emergency department: a proof-of-concept randomized controlled trial (Journal)
Key Elements of the Research:
Study Focus and Hypothesis: The research centered on reducing intrusive memories following trauma. The hypothesis was that playing Tetris, a game demanding high visuospatial skills, could disrupt the consolidation of traumatic memories, thereby reducing their intrusiveness.
Conceptualization
Memory Consolidation Theory: This theory suggests a time window after a traumatic event during which memories are still malleable and susceptible to influence. Interventions during this period could potentially alter the way these memories are consolidated in the brain.
Visuospatial Task Demands: Cognitive science research indicates that tasks with high visuospatial demands can interfere with the way sensory (especially visual) aspects of a memory are consolidated. Since intrusive memories often manifest as vivid visual recollections, a task that competes for the brain's visuospatial processing resources could reduce the intensity and frequency of these memories.
Tetris as a Visuospatial Task: Tetris is a game that requires significant visual-spatial processing. Players must rotate and place falling blocks into a line, engaging visual and spatial areas of the brain actively. This makes it an ideal task to create the hypothesized interference with the sensory elements of traumatic memories.
Participants and Setting: The study involved 71 patients who had been involved in or witnessed a motor vehicle accident. Importantly, these individuals were treated in an emergency department within six hours of the event, emphasizing the immediacy of the intervention.
Methodology:
Intervention Group: Participants recalled the traumatic event (a memory reminder) and then played Tetris for about 20 minutes.
Control Group: Participants engaged in a written activity log for the same duration.
Outcomes Measured: The primary measure was the number of intrusive memories in the week following the trauma. Secondary outcomes included assessments of post-trauma symptoms, anxiety, and depression after one week and one month.
Findings:
The Tetris intervention significantly reduced the number of intrusive memories compared to the control group.
The reduction in intrusive memories was evident in the first week but did not significantly impact other symptoms or longer-term outcomes.
Implications for Practice: This study introduces a practical, low-intensity intervention that could be easily implemented in various settings, including emergency departments. It opens up possibilities for early intervention post-trauma, potentially preventing the development of more severe symptoms.
Relevance to Mental Health Counselors: The findings suggest a new avenue for trauma intervention that is both innovative and accessible. Mental health counselors can consider the role of cognitive tasks in trauma therapy and the potential of early intervention strategies.
Further Research and Considerations: While the study offers promising results, it also indicates the need for further research to understand the long-term impacts and the applicability to different types of trauma.