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BACKGROUND: Intrusive memories of psychologically traumatic events bring distress both sub-clinically and clinically. This parallel-group, two-arm randomised controlled trial evaluated the effect of a brief behavioural intervention on reducing intrusive memories in frontline healthcare workers exposed to traumatic events during the COVID-19 pandemic. METHODS: Participants with at least two intrusive memories of work-related trauma in the week before recruitment were randomised 1:1 to an imagery-competing task intervention (n = 73) or attention-based control task (n = 71). The number of intrusive memories was assessed at baseline and 5 weeks after the guided session (primary endpoint). RESULTS: The intervention significantly reduced intrusive memory frequency compared with control [intervention Mdn = 1.0 (IQR = 0-3), control Mdn = 5.0 (IQR = 1-17); p 

Original publication

DOI

10.1186/s12916-024-03569-8

Type

Journal article

Journal

BMC Med

Publication Date

19/09/2024

Volume

22

Keywords

Digital intervention, Healthcare workers, Intrusive memory, Mental health, Pandemic, Post-traumatic stress disorder, Prevention-to-treating, Psychological trauma, Humans, COVID-19, Male, Female, Adult, Health Personnel, Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic, Middle Aged, SARS-CoV-2, Imagery, Psychotherapy, Pandemics