The Lóa Study: A Brief Digital Intervention for Women With Intrusive Memories in the SAGA Cohort

Summary

Intrusive memories are sensory memories of a traumatic event(s) that spring to mind involuntarily, and can evoke strong emotions and disrupt functioning in daily life. Previous research has indicated that a brief cognitive intervention can prevent the development of intrusive memories as well as reduce the number of intrusive memories of long-standing trauma. Initial pilot work (using case studies and a pilot study, ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT05089058) with women in Iceland indicates that the intervention is acceptable and feasible.

This randomised controlled trial will compare 3 arms to investigate if access to a cognitive task - either a brief self-guided imagery-competing task or a brief self-guided psychoeducation and signposting task - versus treatment as usual, can reduce the number of intrusive memories in week 5 (i.e., between-groups comparison), controlling for the number of intrusive memories in the baseline week.

The effect on the number of intrusive memories in week 5 (primary outcome), and other symptoms of post-traumatic stress, sleep and cognitive functioning will be tested.

This study is funded by the Icelandic Research Fund (11709-0270) and (200095-5601) and The Oak Foundation (OCAY-18-442).

Conditions

• Intrusive Memories of Traumatic Event(s)

Interventions

BEHAVIORAL

Brief imagery-competing task

Two digital self-guided sessions of a brief digital imagery-competing task. A memory cue followed by playing a computer game with mental rotation instructions.

BEHAVIORAL

Brief psychoeducation and signposting task

Two digital self-guided sessions and access to psychoeducation and signposting regarding resources for psychological trauma in Iceland.

OTHER

Treatment as usual (TAU)

Routine care that participants would otherwise receive if having intrusive memories of traumatic events

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Uppsala University

  collaborator OTHER

• University of Iceland

  lead OTHER

Principal Investigators

• Arna Hauksdóttir, PhD · University of Iceland

• Emily Holmes, PhD · Uppsala University

Study Design

Allocation

RANDOMIZED

Purpose

TREATMENT

Masking

SINGLE

Model

PARALLEL

Eligibility

Min Age

18 Years

Max Age

73 Years

Sex

FEMALE

Healthy Volunteers

Yes

Timeline & Regulatory

Start

2023-10-30

Primary Completion

2026-04-15

Completion

2026-09-30

Countries

• Iceland

Study Locations