Instruction Category: Adult

First night of sleep overconsolidation of trauma memory

Sleep disruption – measured with wearable / apps – during first week

Genetic Risk for PTSD – multiple new GWAS, (Misganaw PRS 2019, Neivergelt 2019, Gelernter 2019).

CBT for Acute Stress Disorder (ASD) or clinically significant levels of posttraumatic stress symptoms (Giumarra et al, 2018), early exposure-based cognitive intervention (Shalev et al, 2012), prolonged exposure for ASD (Bryant, 2008). There is no consensus whether or not CBT alter the trajectory in a favourable way. We do not recommend to do this, because it could be just the waste of resourses.

Laboratory findings – Single approx 25-min behavioural intervention (reminder + filler + mental rotation instructions for Tetris game play) 24 hours after trauma: tested after experimental trauma but not real-world trauma. Main outcome is reduction of intrusive memories over 1 week. Neither game play alone not trauma reminder cue alone was sufficinet: full intervention package is needed.

Prior Childhood Trauma and Substance Abuse

EMDR (Jarero et al, 2015). There is no consensus whether or not EMDR alter the trajectory. We do not recommend to do this, because it could be just the waste of resourses.

Clinical findings showed that a single session of approx. 25 minute behavioural intervention (reminder cue + mental rotation instructions + Tetris game play) reduce intrusive memories of trauma over one week (Yiadurai, 2018, Horsch, 2017). Idealy it should be applied before the first night of sleep after the exposure. Longer term studies needed.