NCT03509792

Simple Cognitive Task After Trauma

Preventing Intrusive Memories After Trauma Via a Simple Cognitive Intervention in the Hospital Emergency Department: "EKUT" (Enkel Kognitiv Uppgift Efter Trauma)

• Status: Completed
• Phase: N/A
• Study type: Interventional
• Enrollment: 42 (actual)
• Sponsor: Karolinska Institutet · Academic / Other
• Sex: All
• Age: 18 Years
• Healthy volunteers: Not accepted

Summary

This research study is designed to investigate the effects of a simple cognitive task (a memory cue following by playing the computer game "Tetris") on intrusive memories ("flashbacks") and other symptoms after a traumatic event. Patients presenting to a hospital emergency department soon after a traumatic event will be randomly allocated to either the simple cognitive task intervention or control. Participants will be followed up at one week and one month, and where possible 3 and 6 months. It is predicted that participants given the simple cognitive task intervention will develop fewer intrusive memories and less severe clinical symptoms than those who are not. This will inform the potential future development of a simple technique to prevent distressing psychological symptoms after a traumatic event. Implementation aspects in a new hospital context will also be explored. Patients use their smartphone for part of the intervention in the study.

Detailed description

This is an explorative pilot study, which will guide the design of a future Randomised Controlled Trial. The main aim of the present study is not a statistical significance test, the results will be descriptive, and will include pilot analyses to obtain an estimate of effect size between groups of the current primary outcome measure.

Conditions

• Post-traumatic Stress Disorders

Interventions

Type	Name	Description
BEHAVIORAL	Simple cognitive task	A memory cue followed by playing the computer game "Tetris" on own smartphone. Options to engage in self-administered booster sessions after day 1.
BEHAVIORAL	Attention placebo	Smartphone activity for same amount of time.

Timeline

• Start date: 2019-01-11
• Primary completion: 2019-07-12
• Completion: 2019-12-20
• First posted: 2018-04-26
• Last updated: 2022-09-02

Locations

1 site across 1 country: Sweden