A new study reveals that playing a slow version of Tetris while recalling traumatic memories can significantly reduce flashbacks in people with PTSD. The research, conducted on NHS staff exposed to trauma during the COVID-19 pandemic, found that the intervention, called ICTI, led to a substantial decrease in flashback frequency compared to other treatments. Experts are excited about the accessibility and adaptability of this method and plan to expand research.
Researchers have found that playing a slow version of Tetris while briefly recalling a traumatic memory can significantly reduce the frequency of flashbacks in individuals exposed to trauma. This innovative approach, known as imagery competing task intervention (ICTI), offers a promising new avenue for treating post-traumatic stress disorder ( PTSD ).
The study, conducted in the UK and Sweden, involved 99 NHS staff members who had experienced trauma during the COVID-19 pandemic, such as witnessing deaths. The participants were divided into groups, with one group receiving the ICTI treatment, another listening to Mozart and podcasts, and a control group receiving standard care. The ICTI group played a specially designed, slowed-down version of Tetris while briefly recalling a traumatic memory. This method is based on the idea that the game occupies the brain's visuospatial areas, thereby weakening the vividness of intrusive memories by competing with the brain processes involved in creating and maintaining these memories. The results, published in The Lancet Psychiatry, demonstrated that the ICTI group experienced a tenfold reduction in flashbacks compared to the other groups within four weeks. Furthermore, the treatment also showed positive effects in mitigating symptoms of PTSD.\The study's lead researcher, Professor Emily Holmes from Uppsala University, emphasized the significant impact even brief, intrusive memories can have on daily life, hijacking attention and triggering unwanted emotions. The ICTI intervention, designed to be accessible and practical, focuses on mental imagery rather than verbal processing, making it suitable for busy individuals. This innovative approach is now being hailed as a major breakthrough. The simplicity of the intervention is particularly noteworthy; it offers a gentle, brief, and practical method that fits well into people's routines. The researchers are now eager to expand their research to test the effectiveness of ICTI across a broader range of people and scenarios. The scalability of the digital intervention is especially promising in the context of the intense pressure faced by healthcare systems globally. The director of the Victor Phillip Dahdaleh Heart & Lung Research Institute at the University of Cambridge, Charlotte Summers, stated that the intervention is an exciting step forward in promoting the wellbeing of healthcare professionals.\Funding for the study was provided by Wellcome, and Tayla McCloud, the research lead for digital mental health at Wellcome, highlighted the remarkable accessibility, scalability, and adaptability of the intervention. She noted that the ICTI approach does not require patients to verbalize their trauma and is even effective across language barriers, which demonstrates its widespread applicability. The study's impressive results underscore the importance of investing in a wide array of mental health interventions to ensure everyone has access to effective treatments. The team is now exploring ways to test ICTI on larger and more diverse groups. They are also considering developing a non-guided version of the game. This next phase of research will determine its effectiveness for a broader range of people and in various scenarios. This includes how effectively it can be used for people who are struggling with trauma in a variety of different ways. The simplicity and accessibility of this approach offers great promise in offering people relief when they need it most. This study offers great hope and demonstrates the power of novel, simple mental health interventions
Tetris PTSD Flashbacks Mental Health Trauma
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