Key steps in developing a cognitive vaccine against traumatic flashbacks: visuospatial Tetris versus verbal Pub Quiz.

Journal article

BACKGROUND: Flashbacks (intrusive memories of a traumatic event) are the hallmark feature of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, however preventative interventions are lacking. Tetris may offer a 'cognitive vaccine' [1] against flashback development after trauma exposure. We previously reported that playing the computer game Tetris soon after viewing traumatic material reduced flashbacks compared to no-task [1]. However, two criticisms need to be addressed for clinical translation: (1) Would all...

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Authors: Holmes, E; James, E; Kilford, E; Deeprose, C

• Publication status: Published
• Journal: PloS one
• Volume: 5
• Issue: 11
• Pages: e13706
• Publication date: 2010-01-01
• DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0013706
• EISSN: 1932-6203
• ISSN: 1932-6203
• Language: English
• Keywords: Middle Aged; Adult; Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic; Motion Pictures as Topic; Affect; Mental Recall; Cognitive Science; Computers; Questionnaires; Female; Task Performance and Analysis; Humans; Male; Adolescent; Young Adult