Remotely Resolving Psychological Stress (Remote RePS)

Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a highly disabling disorder that affects
approximately 8% of the population worldwide. Threat-related attention biases represent an
important mechanism that may underlie PTSD symptoms. Such attention biases predict risk for
PTSD following trauma exposure, and are thought to maintain some symptoms of PTSD. Research
indicates that specific forms of computerized attention bias modification (ABM) training are
effective in reducing attention bias for threat. We have developed a mobile app called REPS
(Resolving Psychological Stress) to administer threat-related ABM training to people with
symptoms of PTSD and have tested it in a laboratory-based pilot study of 22 people with
elevated PTSD symptoms. Our preliminary data indicate that the app is highly acceptable to
patients and that use of the app reduces attention bias for threat and PTSD symptom severity.
The proposed study will expand on this prior lab-based study to test ABM training on an app
entirely remotely. Our primary aim is to examine the feasibility, acceptability and usability
of remotely administered app-based ABM training and to determine the efficacy of remote
app-based ABM training in reducing attention bias and PTSD symptom severity. Our secondary
aim is to examine whether a personalized version of ABM training results in greater
attentional bias change and anxiety reduction compared to a non-personalized ABM training.

Inclusion Criteria:

- Must own an iOS device compatible with the app (i.e. iPhones or iPod Touches)

- Must score at or above 33 on PTSD Checklist (PCL-5), which indicates clinically
significant PTSD symptoms.

Exclusion Criteria:

- Active suicidal ideation.