Developing a brief cognitive task intervention to reduce long-standing intrusive memories of trauma: A feasibility study with remote delivery for women in Iceland
Author(s) / Creator(s)
Hardarson, Johann Palmar
Gamble, Beau
Thorarinsdottir, Kristjana
Stephensen, Elín Sjöfn
Kanstrup, Marie
Gudmundsson, Thorsteinn
Valdimarsdóttir, Unnur
Hauksdottir, Arna
Bjornsson, Andri S.
Moulds, Michelle L.
Holmes, Emily A.
Abstract / Description
Background: There is emerging evidence that a brief cognitive task intervention may reduce the frequency of intrusive memories, even long-standing memories of older trauma. However, evaluations to date have involved in-person researcher contact. We investigated the feasibility and acceptability of remote delivery to women (n = 12) in Iceland who had experienced trauma on average two decades earlier. Method: Participants monitored intrusive memories in a daily diary for one week (i.e., baseline phase), completed (at least) two guided, remote intervention sessions (e.g., via secure video platform), and were encouraged to continue to use the intervention self-guided. Results: Eight participants completed the primary outcome and reported fewer intrusive memories in Week 5 (M = 6.98, SD = 5.73) compared to baseline (M = 25.98, SD = 29.39) – a 68% reduction. Intrusions decreased at each subsequent time point; at 3-months (n = 7) there was a 91% reduction compared to baseline. Other psychological symptoms reduced and functioning improved. Importantly, participant ratings and qualitative feedback support feasibility and acceptability. Conclusion: Findings suggest the feasibility of remote delivery of the brief imagery-competing task intervention by non-specialists (who were not mental health professionals) and hold promise for developing psychotherapeutic innovations supporting women with intrusive memories even decades after trauma.
Keyword(s)
trauma intrusive memories intervention feasibility study mental imageryPersistent Identifier
Date of first publication
2024-03-28
Journal title
Clinical Psychology in Europe
Volume
6
Issue
1
Article number
Article e11237
Publisher
PsychOpen GOLD
Publication status
publishedVersion
Review status
peerReviewed
Is version of
Citation
Hardarson, J. P., Gamble, B., Thorarinsdottir, K., Stephensen, E. S., Kanstrup, M., Gudmundsson, T., Valdimarsdóttir, U., Hauksdottir, A., Bjornsson, A. S., Moulds, M. L., & Holmes, E. A. (2024). Developing a brief cognitive task intervention to reduce long-standing intrusive memories of trauma: A feasibility study with remote delivery for women in Iceland. Clinical Psychology in Europe, 6(1), Article e11237. https://doi.org/10.32872/cpe.11237
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cpe.v6i1.11237.pdfAdobe PDF - 1.63MBMD5: fd68abf8ea2f30cda008418f8625127d
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Author(s) / Creator(s)Hardarson, Johann Palmar
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Author(s) / Creator(s)Gamble, Beau
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Author(s) / Creator(s)Thorarinsdottir, Kristjana
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Author(s) / Creator(s)Stephensen, Elín Sjöfn
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Author(s) / Creator(s)Kanstrup, Marie
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Author(s) / Creator(s)Gudmundsson, Thorsteinn
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Author(s) / Creator(s)Valdimarsdóttir, Unnur
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Author(s) / Creator(s)Hauksdottir, Arna
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Author(s) / Creator(s)Bjornsson, Andri S.
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Author(s) / Creator(s)Moulds, Michelle L.
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Author(s) / Creator(s)Holmes, Emily A.
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PsychArchives acquisition timestamp2024-08-21T10:16:53Z
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Made available on2024-08-21T10:16:53Z
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Date of first publication2024-03-28
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Abstract / DescriptionBackground: There is emerging evidence that a brief cognitive task intervention may reduce the frequency of intrusive memories, even long-standing memories of older trauma. However, evaluations to date have involved in-person researcher contact. We investigated the feasibility and acceptability of remote delivery to women (n = 12) in Iceland who had experienced trauma on average two decades earlier. Method: Participants monitored intrusive memories in a daily diary for one week (i.e., baseline phase), completed (at least) two guided, remote intervention sessions (e.g., via secure video platform), and were encouraged to continue to use the intervention self-guided. Results: Eight participants completed the primary outcome and reported fewer intrusive memories in Week 5 (M = 6.98, SD = 5.73) compared to baseline (M = 25.98, SD = 29.39) – a 68% reduction. Intrusions decreased at each subsequent time point; at 3-months (n = 7) there was a 91% reduction compared to baseline. Other psychological symptoms reduced and functioning improved. Importantly, participant ratings and qualitative feedback support feasibility and acceptability. Conclusion: Findings suggest the feasibility of remote delivery of the brief imagery-competing task intervention by non-specialists (who were not mental health professionals) and hold promise for developing psychotherapeutic innovations supporting women with intrusive memories even decades after trauma.en_US
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Publication statuspublishedVersion
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Review statuspeerReviewed
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CitationHardarson, J. P., Gamble, B., Thorarinsdottir, K., Stephensen, E. S., Kanstrup, M., Gudmundsson, T., Valdimarsdóttir, U., Hauksdottir, A., Bjornsson, A. S., Moulds, M. L., & Holmes, E. A. (2024). Developing a brief cognitive task intervention to reduce long-standing intrusive memories of trauma: A feasibility study with remote delivery for women in Iceland. Clinical Psychology in Europe, 6(1), Article e11237. https://doi.org/10.32872/cpe.11237en_US
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ISSN2625-3410
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Persistent Identifierhttps://hdl.handle.net/20.500.12034/10703
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Persistent Identifierhttps://doi.org/10.23668/psycharchives.15274
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Language of contenteng
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PublisherPsychOpen GOLD
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Is version ofhttps://doi.org/10.32872/cpe.11237
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Is related tohttps://doi.org/10.23668/psycharchives.14093
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Is related tohttps://clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT04709822
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Is related tohttps://osf.io/2b6nh
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Keyword(s)traumaen_US
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Keyword(s)intrusive memoriesen_US
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Keyword(s)interventionen_US
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Keyword(s)feasibility studyen_US
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Keyword(s)mental imageryen_US
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Dewey Decimal Classification number(s)150
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TitleDeveloping a brief cognitive task intervention to reduce long-standing intrusive memories of trauma: A feasibility study with remote delivery for women in Icelanden_US
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DRO typearticle
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Article numberArticle e11237
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Issue1
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Journal titleClinical Psychology in Europe
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Volume6
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Visible tag(s)Version of Recorden_US