Autobiographical Memory Flexibility Training (MemFlex) for Posttraumatic Stress Disorder

Not Applicable

Completed

• Conditions: Post Traumatic Stress Disorder
• Interventions: Behavioral: Memory Flexibility training (MemFlex)

• Registration Number: NCT03634709
• Lead Sponsor: Medical Research Council Cognition and Brain Sciences Unit

Brief Summary

The experience of trauma not only impacts the way an individual thinks and feels, but can also produce changes in the way someone remembers their personal past. It is not only memories of the trauma that are affected- avoidance of trauma memories can also lead to memories of other events becoming vague, and in particular, memories of positive experiences can seem out of reach. This memory difficulty promotes posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). This study will explore an intervention that aims to improve memory difficulties, which should then flow on to improve PTSD. The study will be completed with individuals who have experienced a single incident trauma. Twenty five participants will complete MemFlex straight away, and 25 will go on a waiting list. Once this first group has finished MemFlex, the researchers will compare the two groups to see if the programme produced a larger reduction in PTSD symptoms. MemFlex is workbook-based, and as such, if it is successful it may offer an easy, cheap, and accessible way to offer psychological treatment to PTSD sufferers around the world.

Detailed Description

Not available

Study Timeline

• Study First Submitted: 2018-02-23
• Study First Submitted QC: 2018-08-15
• Study First Posted: 2018-08-16
• Study Start: 2018-08-19
• Primary Completion: 2020-02-11
• Status Verified: 2020-04
• Study Completion: 2020-05-11
• Last Update Submitted: 2020-06-16
• Last Update Posted: 2020-06-17

Recruitment & Eligibility

• Status: COMPLETED
• Sex: All
• Target Recruitment: 40

Inclusion Criteria

• Diagnosis of Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (as indexed by the Farsi version of the Structured Clinical Interview for DSM disorders [SCID])
• Aged over 18 years

Exclusion Criteria

• Lack of oral and/or written fluency in Farsi
• Traumatic brain injury or cognitive impairment, indexed via self-report
• Current experience of psychosis, indexed by SCID

Study & Design

• Study Type: INTERVENTIONAL
• Study Design: PARALLEL

Arm && Interventions

Group	Intervention	Description
Memory Flexibility Training (MemFlex)	Memory Flexibility training (MemFlex)	The MemFlex programme has been adapted from the initial format addressing depression-related memory distortions to facilitate completion with individuals experiencing posttraumatic stress. The workbook and associated materials have also been translated from English to Farsi. The programme consists of one researcher-facilitated session and eight self-guided workbook-based sessions that train memory retrieval skills and are completed over a one month period.

Primary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Autobiographical memory	At post-intervention assessment (approximately 4-5 weeks after pre-intervention assessment)	Number of correct responses on the Alternating Instructions Autobiographical Memory Test- Farsi version

Secondary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
PTSD symptoms at post-intervention	At post-intervention assessment (approximately 4-5 weeks after pre-intervention assessment)	Total score (range - 0-80) on the Farsi version of the Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Checklist for the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders- Fifth Edition
PTSD symptoms at follow-up	Three months following the completion of the intervention	Total score (range - 0-80) on the Farsi version of the Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Checklist for the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders- Fifth Edition

Trial Locations

Locations (1)

Institute for Cognitive Science Studies; 🇮🇷 Tehran, Iran, Islamic Republic of