Can Imagination Change Upsetting Memories of Trauma?

NCT03607630 | Unknown Phase 1

• 1 other identifier: 18/LO/0684
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 12
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

Research suggests that imagination is a powerful tool to change images inside our heads (e.g. memories) and make them less upsetting. It is thought that this occurs through changing the meaning attached to the memory (e.g. I am weak), therefore making it less upsetting to remember. Research has also linked some people's experience of psychosis to distressing trauma memories. Despite this, little is known about whether using imagination to change memories is helpful for people with psychosis. This project will look at whether a talking therapy that uses imagination to change trauma memories helps people with psychosis. This project will specifically look at whether this therapy helps; change the meaning linked to memory, make the memory less upsetting and frequent, and increase sense of control over the memory. This project will recruit six to twelve people with psychosis. Participants will be recruited from services within South London and the Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust's Psychosis Clinical Academic Group. Participants will first be interviewed about their posttraumatic stress difficulties, experiences of psychosis, mental health, and wellbeing. In this appointment, participants will also identify a traumatic memory to focus on during the talking therapy. Four questions about the trauma memory will be asked every day for the remainder of the project. Participants will then wait between one to three weeks before they receive three therapy sessions. Comparing participants to themselves for different periods of time makes sure that their memories do not become less upsetting over time, without therapy. After therapy, participants will continue daily measures for two weeks, with an appointment in the middle (i.e. one week post therapy). This appointment will include questions about posttraumatic stress difficulties, wellbeing and satisfaction with therapy. Participation will last between 6-8 weeks. Participants will be reimbursed for their time

Conditions

Psychosis

Keywords

Imagery rescripting; case series; ImRs; Psychosis

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (1)

• Daily Ratings measuring change in Index Memory throughout the project

  Change in participant's conviction in the distressing appraisal, frequency, distress, and sense of control associated with the memory

  Daily throughout the project, up to 8 weeks

Secondary Outcomes (7)

• Psychotic Symptom Rating Scales (PSYRATS; Haddock, McCarron, Tarrier, & Faragher, 1999)

  First week at the initial assessment

• Change in Wellbeing through 'The Warwick-Edinburgh Mental Well-being Scale' (WEMWBS; Tennant et al, 2007)

  First week at Initial assessment and 1 week post therapy

• Change in PTSD symptoms through 'The Posttraumatic Diagnostic Scale for DSM-5' (PDS-5; Foa et al., 2016)

  First week at Initial assessment and 1 week post therapy

• Mini-Trauma and Life Events Checklist (mini-TALE; Hardy et al, in prep)

  First week at Initial Assessment

• Semi-Structured interview (adapted from Hackmann, Clark ,& McManus's (2000) work on social phobia)

  First Week at Initial Assessment

Study Arms (2)

Waiting Pre-Intervention Control

NO INTERVENTION

Participant completes measures for 1-3 weeks (randomly chosen) before they complete the intervention. Participants act as their own controls

Imagery Rescripting

EXPERIMENTAL

3 Sessions of Imagery Rescripting

Other: Imagery Rescripting

Interventions

Imagery Rescripting OTHER

psychological therapy

Imagery Rescripting

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 18 Years+
• Sex: all
• Healthy Volunteers: No
• Age Groups: Adult (18-64), Older Adult (65+)

You may qualify if:

• Diagnosis of a Schizophrenia-spectrum disorder or mood disorder with psychotic features
• Able to identify an intrusive traumatic memory occurring at least twice in the past week, as assessed by the Post Traumatic Stress Diagnostic Scale.
• Sufficient English to participate in the project

You may not qualify if:

• Concurrent trauma-focused psychological therapy
• Primary diagnosis of learning disability, substance use or organic disorder
• Acute suicide risk
• Lack of capacity to provide informed consent

Sponsors & Collaborators

• King's College London: lead
• South London and the Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust: collaborator

Study Sites (1)

South London and the Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust

London, United Kingdom

RECRUITING

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Psychotic Disorders

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Schizophrenia Spectrum and Other Psychotic Disorders; Mental Disorders

Central Study Contacts

Rachel J Clarke

CONTACT

07486854611; rachel.clarke@kcl.ac.uk

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: phase 1
• Allocation: RANDOMIZED
• Masking: NONE
• Purpose: TREATMENT
• Intervention Model: CROSSOVER
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: SPONSOR

Model Details: Multiple Baseline Case Series - randomization for how long participants wait pre-intervention

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: July 11, 2018
• First Posted: July 31, 2018
• Study Start: August 3, 2018
• Primary Completion: February 28, 2019
• Study Completion: June 1, 2020
• Last Updated: July 31, 2018

Record last verified: 2018-06

Data Sharing

• IPD Sharing: Will not share

Locations

GB (1)