Emotional Working Memory Training for Veterans With PTSD Symptoms
| Status: | Completed |
|---|---|
| Conditions: | Psychiatric |
| Therapuetic Areas: | Psychiatry / Psychology |
| Healthy: | No |
| Age Range: | 18 - 60 |
| Updated: | 6/23/2018 |
| Start Date: | May 2016 |
| End Date: | May 2, 2018 |
Emotional Working Memory Training for Veterans With Elevated Trauma-related Symptoms
PTSD is characterized by recurrent intrusion of trauma-related memories and images that cause
significant distress and impairment to the affected individuals. The current project aims to
examine whether computerized emotional working memory training (eWMT) can help improve
working memory capabilities and reduce trauma-related emotional symptoms among individuals
with elevated trauma-related symptoms. Participants will be randomly assigned to one of the
two computerized training programs. At baseline, post-training, and 1-month follow-up,
participants will be assessed with respect to their emotional symptoms and working
memory-related cognitive performance. Pending successful outcomes, this study will provide
important knowledge that will guide the future efforts to develop an effective, accessible,
and cost-efficient intervention program.
significant distress and impairment to the affected individuals. The current project aims to
examine whether computerized emotional working memory training (eWMT) can help improve
working memory capabilities and reduce trauma-related emotional symptoms among individuals
with elevated trauma-related symptoms. Participants will be randomly assigned to one of the
two computerized training programs. At baseline, post-training, and 1-month follow-up,
participants will be assessed with respect to their emotional symptoms and working
memory-related cognitive performance. Pending successful outcomes, this study will provide
important knowledge that will guide the future efforts to develop an effective, accessible,
and cost-efficient intervention program.
PTSD is characterized by recurrent intrusion of trauma-related memories and images that cause
significant distress and impairment to the affected individuals. The long-term objective is
to develop an effective cognitive treatment program that can reduce such intrusive cognitions
observed among individuals who have been exposed to a significant trauma. The specific
objective is to examine whether computerized emotional working memory training (eWMT) can
help improve working memory capabilities and reduce trauma-related emotional symptoms among
individuals with elevated trauma-related symptoms. eWMT is designed to improve the
individual's ability to stay focused on the target and filter out irrelevant information from
their working memory, which is expected to improve trauma-related emotional symptoms via the
improvement of working memory functioning.
Individuals who display elevated trauma symptoms will be randomly assigned to one of two eWMT
conditions: (a) adjustable n-back training (i.e., potent working memory training program),
and (b) fixed 1-back training (i.e., training that delivers a limited dose). Participants
will be blinded to ensure objective assessment of the intervention effects. Before and after
the eWMT intervention, all participants will undergo an assessment session that aims to
assess each individual's emotional symptoms and working memory-related cognitive performance.
Further, following completion of procedure, participants will be invited for a follow-up
assessment to assess the long-term effect of training.
The eWMT intervention will be delivered via Internet. Thus, the current intervention is a
home-based Internet intervention, which provides an important context for testing and
developing a cost-efficient, accessible, and effective intervention program for many
individuals suffering from exposure to traumas. Each training session will take about 20
minutes, and all participants in both conditions will receive a total of 15 training
sessions. Participants will be guided to complete an average of 3 training sessions every
week for a total duration of approximately 5 weeks.
Investigators hypothesize that individuals who undergo the active eWMT will display a greater
improvement in overall working memory performance and a greater reduction in trauma-related
symptoms, compared to individuals who undergo the less effective control training program.
Pending successful outcomes, this study will provide important knowledge that will guide the
future efforts to develop an effective, accessible, and cost-efficient intervention program
that can reach out to many individuals who suffer from exposure to traumas.
significant distress and impairment to the affected individuals. The long-term objective is
to develop an effective cognitive treatment program that can reduce such intrusive cognitions
observed among individuals who have been exposed to a significant trauma. The specific
objective is to examine whether computerized emotional working memory training (eWMT) can
help improve working memory capabilities and reduce trauma-related emotional symptoms among
individuals with elevated trauma-related symptoms. eWMT is designed to improve the
individual's ability to stay focused on the target and filter out irrelevant information from
their working memory, which is expected to improve trauma-related emotional symptoms via the
improvement of working memory functioning.
Individuals who display elevated trauma symptoms will be randomly assigned to one of two eWMT
conditions: (a) adjustable n-back training (i.e., potent working memory training program),
and (b) fixed 1-back training (i.e., training that delivers a limited dose). Participants
will be blinded to ensure objective assessment of the intervention effects. Before and after
the eWMT intervention, all participants will undergo an assessment session that aims to
assess each individual's emotional symptoms and working memory-related cognitive performance.
Further, following completion of procedure, participants will be invited for a follow-up
assessment to assess the long-term effect of training.
The eWMT intervention will be delivered via Internet. Thus, the current intervention is a
home-based Internet intervention, which provides an important context for testing and
developing a cost-efficient, accessible, and effective intervention program for many
individuals suffering from exposure to traumas. Each training session will take about 20
minutes, and all participants in both conditions will receive a total of 15 training
sessions. Participants will be guided to complete an average of 3 training sessions every
week for a total duration of approximately 5 weeks.
Investigators hypothesize that individuals who undergo the active eWMT will display a greater
improvement in overall working memory performance and a greater reduction in trauma-related
symptoms, compared to individuals who undergo the less effective control training program.
Pending successful outcomes, this study will provide important knowledge that will guide the
future efforts to develop an effective, accessible, and cost-efficient intervention program
that can reach out to many individuals who suffer from exposure to traumas.
Inclusion Criteria:
- Fluently speaks English
- The PTSD Checklist (PCL-5) total score >= 38
Exclusion Criteria:
- No access to a private computer with high-speed Internet that can be used privately.
- Elevated suicidality
- History of psychotic disorders (e.g., schizophrenia)
- Severe substance use disorder (as per DSM-5 criteria)
- History of severe brain injury or organic mental syndrome
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