Reducing Intrusive Memories in Refugees and Asylum Seekers With PTSD (NCT04394156) | Clinical Trial Compass
TerminatedNot Applicable
Reducing Intrusive Memories in Refugees and Asylum Seekers With PTSD
Stopped: Due to recruitment delays in the Covid-19 pandemic, alongside the need to submit the doctoral thesis this study was conducted for in a limited time frame, recruitment was halted prematurely (note that our recruitment aim was up to 13 participants).
United Kingdom6 participantsStarted 2020-07-07
Plain-language summary
This research study is designed to investigate the use of a simple cognitive task for decreasing the number of intrusive memories of traumatic events experienced by refugees and asylum seekers with a diagnosis of Post-traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) currently living in the UK. The intervention includes a memory reminder cue, a 10-minute time gap and then around 20 minutes playing the mobile phone game Tetris, using mental rotation instructions. The study will have a multiple baseline case-series design (AB), with a randomised duration of baseline length up to three weeks. Thus, participants will complete a no-intervention phase of up to three weeks, followed by an intervention phase. Please see the intervention section for more details about the intervention sessions. Follow ups are conducted after each week to monitor the frequency of intrusive memories of trauma in a pen-and-paper diary. It is predicted that participants will report fewer intrusive memories after receiving the intervention than in the preceding baseline phase.
Who can participate
Age range
18 Years – 65 Years
Sex
ALL
See this in plain English?
AI-rewrites the medical criteria so a patient or caregiver can understand them. Always confirm with the trial site.
Inclusion Criteria:
* are on the wait list for treatment (trauma focused therapy) at Woodfield Trauma Service
* aged 18-65
* have experienced intrusive memories in the past two weeks, as assessed by scoring 1 or above on question 1 of the PCL-5
* are able to communicate with the researcher, with or without an interpreter
* have a fixed abode. This is operationalised as having a current address (including B\&B or open access hostel) and evidence indicating that the person is likely to have a reliable address throughout the study. This is necessary to avoid sample attrition.
* can commit to attending regular appointments and keeping an intrusion diary throughout the duration of the study.
* if recruited remotely, have access to the internet and a device such as a mobile phone, I-pad or laptop, to engage in video calls and to play Tetris on.
* if recruited remotely, are able to find a quiet space for 1 hour a week to have an appointment e.g. without distraction from other family members.
Exclusion Criteria:
* a current diagnosis of schizophrenia or bipolar disorder type 1
* Intelligence Quotient (IQ) \< 80
* acute suicide risk
* substance dependence
* have been unable to complete the routine questionnaires given to new patients in the service at assessment
Questions worth asking your doctor
Bring these to your next appointment. They're a starting point for a shared conversation — not a sign you qualify or a recommendation to enrol.
1Based on my diagnosis and history, is this trial worth exploring for me — or is there a standard treatment we should try first?
2What does this trial's phase tell us about how much is already known about its safety and benefit?
3What would taking part actually involve for me — visits, tests, time, and travel?
4What are the known and possible risks or side effects I should weigh, and how would they be monitored?
5If this trial isn't the right fit, what other options or trials would you suggest I look into?
Generated to help you prepare — always confirm anything about your own eligibility and care with the study team and your doctor.
Questions for the trial coordinator
The trial coordinator is the person who runs the study day to day. These cover the practical side — logistics, costs, and what taking part would actually mean for your life. The study team confirms whether you meet the criteria; these are questions to ask, not a sign you qualify.
1What does taking part actually involve week to week — how many visits, where, and how long does each one take?
2What costs are covered by the study, and what might I have to pay for myself, including travel, parking, or time off work?
3What happens during screening, and what happens if the study team confirms I don't meet the criteria after those tests?
4Who pays for the scans, blood work, and other tests the trial requires — the study, my insurance, or me?
5How will being in the trial affect my regular care, and will my own doctor stay informed and involved?
6Can I leave the trial at any point if I change my mind, and what would happen to my care if I do?
A starting point for the conversation — always confirm anything about your own eligibility, costs, and care with the study team and your doctor.
What they're measuring
1
Frequency of intrusive memories
Timeframe: Baseline weeks 1-3, throughout the duration of the intervention phase (approximately 5 weeks), post-intervention weeks 1-2 and for 1 week 2 months post-intervention. Change is assessed from baseline to post-intervention.