A recent study has demonstrated that just one treatment session that features the video game Tetris can alleviate symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). This research was conducted by experts from Uppsala University and documented in the journal BMC Medicine.
“We have found that it’s possible to reduce the occurrence of distressing and intrusive memories related to trauma, which can also lessen other PTSD symptoms. In merely one guided session, we observed beneficial effects that lasted for five weeks and even up to six months post-treatment. Trauma is something that can impact anyone. Utilizing a common tool like video gaming to achieve such results offers a potential way to assist many individuals,” states Emily Holmes, a professor at Uppsala University who led the research.
The primary indicator of PTSD is the presence of distressing and intrusive memories of a traumatic experience, often referred to as flashbacks. Additional symptoms may include avoidance behaviors, heightened anxiety, and challenges in sleeping and focusing. Holmes and her team have been investigating methods to prevent PTSD for an extended period. In this study, their focus was on eliminating flashbacks. The idea was to replace these intrusive memories through a visual task to also diminish other PTSD manifestations.
Mental Rotation Techniques with Tetris
This treatment revolves around the concept of mental rotation, a process central to the game Tetris. When viewing an object from one perspective, mental rotation allows one to envisage what it would resemble when rotated to another perspective.
The study recruited 164 participants (details available in the fact box). Initially, each participant tracked their intrusive memories about trauma for a week. Afterwards, they were randomly divided into two groups. One half played Tetris, engaging in mental rotation tasks, while the other half, the control group, performed a non-visual task by listening to the radio. All participants recorded their experiences with flashbacks in a journal. Originally, participants reported an average of 15 flashbacks per week. At the five-week follow-up, those in the control group noted about five flashbacks weekly, whereas the gaming group recorded merely one.
At a follow-up six months after treatment, participants who played Tetris displayed fewer PTSD symptoms. Using a standardized assessment tool (PCL-5), which evaluates PTSD symptoms, the gaming group reported roughly half the number of issues compared to the control group.
“We were pleasantly surprised by the method’s effectiveness and the lasting improvement in symptoms over six months. It might seem improbable that such a brief intervention, involving video games and omitting extensive trauma discussion with a therapist, could be beneficial. However, this study offers scientifically validated evidence that a single guided digital session can successfully diminish intrusive memories and can be safely administered to participants,” Holmes adds.
“Cognitive Vaccination”
“My aspiration is that eventually we will have a resource available for individuals, such as healthcare professionals exposed to traumatic experiences, that aids in preventing and addressing early symptoms of PTSD. This would function like a ‘cognitive vaccine’, akin to our current vaccinations for certain infectious diseases,” Holmes elaborates.
The study was carried out in collaboration with partners at Uppsala Clinical Research, Karolinska Trials Alliance, Karolinska Institutet, Karolinska University Hospital, Dalarna University, Sophiahemmet University, Ambulance Services in Region Västerbotten, the University of Münster (Germany), P1Vital (UK), and the University of New South Wales, UNSW (Australia).
