Exposure by Assessment: Effects of Daily AMQ-Based EMA of an Intrusive Trauma Memory in PTSD

Condition(s) studied

Investigational drug(s) / intervention(s)

AMQ-based ecological momentary assessment of an intrusive memory: Participants allocated to this intervention will complete daily AMQ-based ecological momentary assessment (EMA) prompts for 10 days, focused on a personally identified intrusive traumatic memory. The target memory will be selected at the beginning of the trial. The EMA prompts will assess phenomenological and emotional characteristics of the memory, including features related to vividness, emotional intensity, nowness/reliving, and intrusiveness. This intervention is intended to examine whether repeated, low-burden assessment of an intrusive traumatic memory by the participant would be associated with changes in PTSD symptom severity.

AMQ-based ecological momentary assessment of an emotionally neutral memory: Participants allocated to this intervention will complete daily AMQ-based ecological momentary assessment (EMA) prompts for 10 days, focused on a personally identified neutral, non-intrusive autobiographical memory. The target memory will be selected at the beginning of the trial. The EMA prompts will be otherwise identical to those administered in the intrusive-memory arm and will assess phenomenological and emotional characteristics of the selected memory. This control intervention is intended to distinguish the effects of repeated memory-focused assessment in general from effects specific to repeated assessment of an intrusive traumatic memory.

Study summary

Intrusive re-experiencing is a hallmark of PTSD. The study applies ecological momentary assessment (EMA) of participants' trauma memories (active group) vs. EMA of a neutral memory (control group) to test whether the active intervention can reduce intrusive symptoms severity and overal PTSD symptom severity in general.

Eligibility

Primary outcome measure(s)

• Change from Baseline in Clinician-Rated PTSD Symptom Severity as Assessed by the CAPS-5 Total Severity Score at Post-Intervention and Follow-Up — From baseline to post-intervention - 10 days; Follow-up data will be collected 15-30 days following the post-intervention assessment.
  Clinician-rated PTSD symptom severity will be assessed using the Clinician-Administered PTSD Scale for DSM-5 (CAPS-5) total severity score. Change from baseline will be evaluated at post-intervention and follow-up. Higher CAPS-5 total severity scores indicate greater PTSD symptom severity.
• Change from Baseline in Clinician-Rated PTSD Intrusion Symptom Severity as Assessed by the CAPS-5 Cluster B Severity Score at Post-Intervention and Follow-Up — From baseline to post-intervention - 10 days; Follow-up data will be collected 15-30 days following the post-intervention assessment.
  PTSD intrusion symptom severity will be assessed using the Cluster B severity score of the Clinician-Administered PTSD Scale for DSM-5 (CAPS-5). Cluster B includes clinician-rated symptoms of intrusive memories, distressing dreams, dissociative reactions/flashbacks, psychological distress at reminders, and physiological reactions to reminders. Change from baseline will be evaluated at post-intervention and follow-up. Higher CAPS-5 Cluster B scores indicate greater intrusion symptom severity.

Trial sites (1)

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