Tackling Intrusive Traumatic Memories After a Difficult Birth

NCT04286724 | Completed DMC

• 1 other identifier: 2019-01435
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 23
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

This proof-of-principle study aims to investigate the effects of a brief behavioural procedure including a computerized visuospatial task (the computer game "Tetris") preceded by a reactivation of the traumatic memory of childbirth, on birth-related intrusive traumatic memories and other postpartum posttraumatic stress symptoms. Women who report birth-related intrusive memories after 6 weeks postpartum will monitor their intrusive traumatic memories in a daily diary. After two weeks of diary, they will meet a psychologist to briefly evoke the memory of their birth, and receive a brief behavioural procedure including playing Tetris. Participants will then continue to complete an intrusive traumatic memory diary during two weeks. It is predicted that they will report fewer intrusive memories in the two weeks following the intervention, compared to the two weeks before. This will inform the potential future development of a simple computerized intervention procedure to reduce distressing psychological symptoms after traumatic childbirth.

Conditions

Posttraumatic Stress Disorder; Intrusive Traumatic Memories

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (1)

• Frequency of intrusive memories of the index trauma

  Frequency of intrusive traumatic memories related to childbirth recorded by participants in a trauma-related intrusive memories diary over the two weeks after the intervention

  Within 2 weeks following the intervention

Secondary Outcomes (3)

• Presence and severity of maternal PTSD symptoms

  1 month after the intervention

• Frequency of intrusive memories of the index trauma

  Between 4 and 6 weeks after the intervention

• Psychological distress related to intrusive memories of the index trauma

  Within 2 weeks following the intervention

Other Outcomes (1)

• Intervention acceptability

  1 month after the intervention

Study Arms (1)

Intervention

EXPERIMENTAL

Behavioral: Brief behavioural procedure including a computerized visuospatial task (computer game "Tetris")

Interventions

Brief behavioural procedure including a computerized visuospatial task (computer game "Tetris") BEHAVIORAL

Brief behavioural procedure including a computerized visuospatial task (the computer game "Tetris") preceded by a reactivation of the traumatic memory of childbirth

Intervention

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 18 Years - 50 Years
• Sex: female
• Healthy Volunteers: No
• Age Groups: Adult (18-64)

You may qualify if:

• Gave birth at the Lausanne University Hospital
• Gave written consent
• Have at least 4 related-to-childbirth intrusions over the two weeks prior to recruitment, and at least 2 related-to-childbirth intrusions during the pre-intervention diary
• Gave birth more than 6 weeks ago
• Is able to distinguish intrusions linked to the traumatic childbirth from intrusions linked to other traumatic events

You may not qualify if:

• Gave birth to a stillborn child
• Not fluent in French
• Severe illness of mother or infant (e.g. cancer, cardiovascular disease, severe neurodevelopmental difficulties, malformations)
• Have an established intellectual disability, or psychiatric history such as psychotic illness
• Alcohol abuse and/or illegal drug use
• Currently receiving psychological care in relation with the traumatic birth experience

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Antje Horsch: lead

Study Sites (1)

Centre Hospitalier Universitaire Vaudois

Lausanne, Canton of Vaud, 1011, Switzerland

Location

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Stress Disorders, Traumatic; Trauma and Stressor Related Disorders; Mental Disorders

Study Officials

• Antje Horsch, PhD

  University of Lausanne and Lausanne University Hospital

  PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: not applicable
• Allocation: NA
• Masking: NONE
• Purpose: TREATMENT
• Intervention Model: SINGLE GROUP
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: SPONSOR INVESTIGATOR
• PI Title: Assistant Professor

Model Details: Single group pre-post study

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: February 25, 2020
• First Posted: February 27, 2020
• Study Start: July 8, 2020
• Primary Completion: March 15, 2021
• Study Completion: April 14, 2021
• Last Updated: June 22, 2021

Record last verified: 2021-06

Locations

CH (1)