Theories of Working Memory and Consolidation/RECOnsolidation in the Process of Resorption of Post-traumatic Symptoms.

Summary

EMDR is a psychotherapeutic approach recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO) for the treatment of disorders such as post-traumatic stress disorder, anxiety, depression and, more generally, psychological distress. In all these disorders, intrusions are one of the symptoms leading to intense emotional distress. EMDR therapy, by making intrusions less emotional and less present in the mind (i.e. less vivid), would reduce psychological distress. This symptomatological reduction would be made possible by the therapist's application of alternating bilateral visual (rapid eye movements following a point from left to right), auditory (tones emitted alternately in the right ear and then in the left ear) and/or tactile (tapping with fingers on the left and right shoulders alternately) stimulations administered while the patient concentrates on his or her intrusive thoughts. Accordingly, the aim of this research is to investigate the efficacy of self-administration of Alternating Bilateral Stimulations (ABS), on the emotional intensity (emotionality) associated with negative intrusive thoughts (or intrusions).

Conditions

• Working Memory
• Consolidation/Recconsolidation Memory
• Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing
• Alterning Bilateral Stimulation
• Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic
• Intrusive Memories
• Vividness
• Emotivity

Interventions

BEHAVIORAL

Eye movements (EM)

The participant focuses on the intrusive thought and visually follows the horizontal movement of a white dot (Ø 1 cm) on the black computer screen 8 times for 24 seconds.

BEHAVIORAL

Auditory stimulations

The participant focuses on the intrusive thoughts and hears the auditory "beeps" through the headphones provided 8 times for 24 seconds.

BEHAVIORAL

Tactile stimulations

The participant focuses on the intrusive thought and applies tactile self-stimulation 8 times for 24 seconds.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• University of Lorraine

  lead OTHER

Study Design

Allocation

RANDOMIZED

Purpose

TREATMENT

Masking

SINGLE

Model

PARALLEL

Eligibility

Min Age

18 Years

Max Age

65 Years

Sex

ALL

Healthy Volunteers

No

Timeline & Regulatory

Start

2024-09-06

Primary Completion

2026-06-30

Completion

2026-06-30

Countries

• France

Study Locations