NCT05849337

The Lóa Study: a Brief Digital Intervention for Women with Intrusive Memories in the SAGA Cohort

The Lóa Study: a Randomised Control Trial of a Brief Digital Intervention to Support Women Experiencing Intrusive Memories of Traumatic Events During Their Lifespan from the SAGA Cohort

• Status: Recruiting
• Phase: N/A
• Study type: Interventional
• Enrollment: 380 (estimated)
• Sponsor: University of Iceland · Academic / Other
• Sex: Female
• Age: 18 Years – 73 Years
• Healthy volunteers: Accepted

Summary

Intrusive memories are sensory memories of a traumatic event(s) that spring to mind involuntarily, and can evoke strong emotions and disrupt functioning in daily life. Previous research has indicated that a brief cognitive intervention can prevent the development of intrusive memories as well as reduce the number of intrusive memories of long-standing trauma. Initial pilot work (using case studies and a pilot study, ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT05089058) with women in Iceland indicates that the intervention is acceptable and feasible. This randomised controlled trial will compare 3 arms to investigate if access to a cognitive task - either a brief self-guided imagery-competing task or a brief self-guided psychoeducation and signposting task - versus treatment as usual, can reduce the number of intrusive memories in week 5 (i.e., between-groups comparison), controlling for the number of intrusive memories in the baseline week. The effect on the number of intrusive memories in week 5 (primary outcome), and other symptoms of post-traumatic stress, sleep and cognitive functioning will be tested. This study is funded by the Icelandic Research Fund (11709-0270) and (200095-5601) and The Oak Foundation (OCAY-18-442).

Detailed description

Participants will be recruited from the Stress and Gene Analysis (SAGA) Cohort, a population-based, longitudinal study of Icelandic women (www.afallasaga.is, see selected publications in the reference box below). A statistical analysis plan will be prepared prior to the first interim analysis using both frequentist and Bayesian analyses for statistical inference. Regular monitoring will be performed by Vistor to verify that the study is conducted, and data are generated, documented and reported in compliance with the protocol, good clinical practice (GCP) and the applicable regulatory guidelines.

Conditions

• Intrusive Memories of Traumatic Event(s)

Interventions

Type	Name	Description
BEHAVIORAL	Brief imagery-competing task	Two digital self-guided sessions of a brief digital imagery-competing task. A memory cue followed by playing a computer game with mental rotation instructions.
BEHAVIORAL	Brief psychoeducation and signposting task	Two digital self-guided sessions and access to psychoeducation and signposting regarding resources for psychological trauma in Iceland.
OTHER	Treatment as usual (TAU)	Routine care that participants would otherwise receive if having intrusive memories of traumatic events

Timeline

• Start date: 2023-10-30
• Primary completion: 2025-05-31
• Completion: 2025-11-30
• First posted: 2023-05-08
• Last updated: 2025-01-24

Locations

1 site across 1 country: Iceland