Post-traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)NCT07495917
Tetris Intervention Following Subliminal Reactivation for Intrusive Memories
A study testing Subliminal Reactivation Followed by Visuospatial Interference and Computer-based Visuospatial Task (Tetris) in people with Post-traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and Intrusive Memories of Traumatic Event(s), run by Shaanxi Normal University at 1 site in China.
Trial summary
Intrusive memories of traumatic events are a core feature of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and can cause substantial distress and functional impairment. Existing trauma-focused treatments are effective but often require deliberate recollection of traumatic experiences, which can be distressing for some… Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Ages 18 to 50 years
- Conditions the study is for
- Post-traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), Intrusive Memories of Traumatic Event(s)
- What is being tested?
- Subliminal Reactivation Followed by Visuospatial Interference and Computer-based Visuospatial Task (Tetris)
- Type of treatment
- Lifestyle or therapy programme
- Could I receive a placebo?
- Yes, some participants may receive a placebo
- How many people
- 106 participants
- Where
- 1 siteChina
- Study dates
- 10 Apr 2026to 30 Jul 2028
- Phase
- Interventional
- Are there results?
- Not yet: the study is under way
Key requirements
Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.
- Ages 18 to 50 years
- All sexes
- No healthy volunteers
- Adult
Who may be able to join
- Meet DSM-5 PTSD Criterion A (eg, exposure to actual or threatened death). Have experienced one or more traumatic events.
- Experienced three or more intrusive memories during the baseline week.
- Have internet access and have access to a personal computer.
- Be willing to provide consent and able to complete study procedures and be contacted by the study team.
Who cannot join
- Have fewer than three intrusive memories during the baseline week.
- A current diagnosis of schizophrenia, obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), a severe personality disorder judged to interfere with treatment adherence, or acute suicidal behavior.
- Have severe substance dependence.
Trial locations and contacts
1 site in 1 country. Contact the study team or a site near you to ask about taking part.
China1 site, 1 recruiting
- Recruiting
School of Psychology, Shaanxi Normal University
Xi'an, Shaanxi, 710062
About this study
Official title: A Tetris Intervention Following Subliminal Reactivation for Reducing Intrusive Memories in Trauma-exposed Individuals: a Randomized Controlled Trial
Intrusive memories of traumatic events are a core feature of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and can cause substantial distress and functional impairment. Existing trauma-focused treatments are effective but often require deliberate recollection of traumatic experiences, which can be distressing for some individuals.
Previous experimental studies in healthy participants found that masked reactivation of trauma-related cues, followed after a brief interval by a visuospatial interference task using Tetris gameplay, reduced the frequency and emotional intensity of intrusive memories. Building on these findings, the present randomized controlled trial evaluates the efficacy of this intervention in trauma-exposed individuals experiencing three or more intrusive memories per week.
Read the detailed description
This randomized controlled trial aims to evaluate an intervention for reducing intrusive memories in trauma-exposed individuals. Participants will be randomly assigned to either an intervention group or a control group.
Before the intervention, participants assigned to the intervention group will provide images related to their traumatic experiences for use in the subsequent memory-reactivation procedure. The intervention group will undergo trauma-related memory reactivation, a music interval, and a visuospatial interference task, whereas the control group will complete only the visuospatial task. Intrusive memories and related symptoms will be assessed during follow-up.
- Being tested
- Subliminal Reactivation Followed by Visuospatial Interference, Computer-based Visuospatial Task (Tetris)
- Medical subject headings
- Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic
What participants receive
What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.
Subliminal Reactivation Followed by Visuospatial InterferenceBehavioural
In each intervention session, participants are exposed subliminally to trauma-related cues. Participants then complete a 10-minute music-listening task during the post-reactivation interval, followed by a computerized visuospatial interference task (Tetris) with mental rotation instructions.
Computer-based Visuospatial Task (Tetris)Behavioural
A computerized visuospatial task (Tetris) with mental rotation instructions.
| Study group | Role | What they receive |
|---|---|---|
| Unconscious Reactivation | Experimental | Participants in this experimental arm will undergo subliminal (unconscious) reactivation of trauma-related memories. Trauma-related cues are presented below the threshold of conscious awareness. Following reactivation, participants complete a 10-minute music-listening task, after which they perform a computerized visuospatial interference task (Tetris) with mental rotation instructions. Receives: Behavioral: Subliminal Reactivation Followed by Visuospatial Interference |
| No Reactivation Control | Sham comparator | Participants in this control arm will not undergo trauma memory reactivation. They will proceed directly to a computerized visuospatial task (Tetris) with mental rotation instructions. This condition serves as a comparator for evaluating the effects of the experimental intervention while controlling for the nonspecific effects associated with engagement in the visuospatial task. Receives: Behavioral: Computer-based Visuospatial Task (Tetris) |
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
Number of trauma-related intrusive memories
Number of trauma-related intrusive memories assessed via a daily diary.
Measured: Day 30 - 36(all arms) controlling for baseline week
Secondary outcomes (9)
Number of trauma-related intrusive memories
Number of trauma-related intrusive memories assessed via a daily diary.
Measured: Day 12 - 18 (all arms) controlling for baseline week
Clinician-Administered PTSD Scale for DSM-5 (CAPS-5)
Change in PTSD symptom severity as measured by the Clinician-Administered PTSD Scale for DSM-5 (CAPS-5). The CAPS-5 is a structured clinical interview assessing DSM-5 PTSD symptoms. Each of the 20 PTSD symptom items is rated on a severity scale from 0 to 4. The total symptom severity score is calculated by summing the severity ratings for the 20 PTSD symptom items, yielding a total score range from 0 to 80. Higher scores indicate greater PTSD symptom severity. PTSD diagnostic status is determined according to DSM-5 symptom cluster criteria and is not based solely on the total severity score.
Measured: Baseline (day 0) and day 37 (all arms)
Intrusive memory ratings
This 7-item questionnaire assesses a number of intrusive memory characteristics. These characteristics include: frequency (7-point categorical response from 'never' to 'many times a day'); distress (0=not at all to 10=extremely); disruption to concentration (0=not at all to 10=extremely); interference with what you were doing (how much (0=not at all to 10=extremely) and for how long (6-point categorical response from '<1min' to '>60mins')); impact on work functioning (0=not at all to 10=extremely); impact on functioning in other areas of life (0=not at all to 10=extremely).
Measured: Baseline(day 0), Day 18, day 36, 2 months after the last intervention(all arms)
Post-Intervention Questionnaire
A 2-item questionnaire assessed participants' immediate subjective experience after each intervention session: distress experienced during the procedure (0=not at all to 10=very); acceptability of the intervention task (0=not at all to 10=very).
Measured: Day1, 2, 10, 11, 19, 20, 28, 29 (all arms)
PTSD Checklist for DSM-5 (PCL-5)
This 20-item measure assesses symptoms of PTSD over the last month. Each of the 20 items is rated on a 5-point Likert scale ranging from 0 (Not at all) to 4 (Extremely). The total score ranges from 0 to 80.
Measured: Baseline(day 0), day19, day37, 2 months after the last intervention(all arms)
Impact of Event Scale-Revised (IES-R)
This 22-item self-report measure subjective distress caused by traumatic events during the past seven days. It assesses three domains of post-traumatic stress: intrusion, avoidance, and hyperarousal. Each of the 22 items is rated on a 5-point scale according to symptom severity: 0 (Not at all) to 4 (Extremely). The total score is calculated by summing the scores of all 22 items, yielding a total score range from 0 to 88.
Measured: Baseline(day 0), day19, day37, 2 months after the last intervention(all arms)
Beck Depression Inventory-II (BDI-II)
The Beck Depression Inventory-II (BDI-II) is a 21-item self-report instrument used to assess the existence and severity of depressive symptoms, covering emotional (e.g., sadness, hopelessness), cognitive (e.g., self-reproach, worthlessness), somatic (e.g., fatigue, appetite loss), and behavioral (e.g., loss of interest, social withdrawal) dimensions. Each of the 21 items consists of four statements describing increasing levels of severity, rated on a 4-point scale ranging from 0 (not present) to 3 (severe). The total score is calculated by summing the scores of all 21 items, with a total score range from 0 to 63. Higher scores indicate more severe depressive symptoms.
Measured: Baseline(day 0), day19, day37, 2 months after the last intervention(all arms)
State-Trait Anxiety Inventory-State version (STAI-S)
The State Anxiety subscale of the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI-Form Y-I, S-AI) comprises items 1 to 20 of the inventory. Half of the items describe negative emotions and the other half describe positive emotions. It is designed to evaluate immediate or recent situational experiences of fear, tension, worry, and nervousness, making it particularly useful for assessing state anxiety under stressful conditions. Each of the 20 items is rated on a 4-point scale: 1 (not at all), 2 (somewhat), 3 (moderately so), and 4 (very much so). The total score is calculated by summing the 20 items, yielding a total score range from 20 to 80. Higher scores reflect a greater severity of the subject's current state anxiety symptoms.
Measured: Baseline(day 0), day19, day37, 2 months after the last intervention(all arms)
Work and Social Adjustment Scale (WSAS)
The WSAS is a 5-item self-report scale designed to measure the degree of functional impairment in day-to-day activities (work, home management, social leisure, private leisure, and close relationships). Each of the 5 items is rated on a 9-point scale ranging from 0 (Not at all impaired) to 8 (Very severely impaired). The total score is calculated by summing the scores of all 5 items, yielding a total score range from 0 to 40. Lower scores indicate better functioning, while higher scores indicate greater functional impairment. Clinical thresholds are: below 10 (subclinical), 10 to 20 (significant functional impairment), and above 20 (moderately severe or worse psychopathology).
Measured: Baseline(day 0), day19, day37, 2 months after the last intervention(all arms)
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted27 Mar 2026
- Study start10 Apr 2026
- Primary completion10 Jun 2028 (estimated)
- Study completion30 Jul 2028 (estimated)
Resources
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
- Other trials for Post-traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)Studies of the same condition, open and under way.
- What the trial phases meanHow a treatment moves from first tests in people to approval.
More details
For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.
Study design
- Study type
- Interventional
- Phase
- Phase N/A
- Primary purpose
- Treatment
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Masking
- Double blind
- Who is masked
- Participant, Investigator
- Enrolment
- 106 participants (estimated)
Sponsor and investigators
- Lead sponsor
- Shaanxi Normal University
- Sponsor type
- University, hospital or other
- Responsible party
- Principal investigator, Zhu Zijian, Shaanxi Normal University
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07495917
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- XAJWKY-2025062
- Status last verified
- Aug 2026
- First submitted
- 21 Mar 2026
- Last updated
- 2 Sep 2026
- Results posted
- No
- Data monitoring committee
- No
- FDA-regulated drug
- No
- FDA-regulated device
- No
- Individual data sharing
- Yes
Study at a glance
From the registry record, last updated by the sponsor on 2 Sep 2026. Recruitment status is as the sponsor reported it: confirm with the study team.
- Official title
- A Tetris Intervention Following Subliminal Reactivation for Reducing Intrusive Memories in Trauma-exposed Individuals: a Randomized Controlled Trial
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07495917
- Acronym / sponsor ID
- XAJWKY-2025062
- Study type
- Interventional
- Recruitment status
- Recruiting
- Enrolment
- 106 participants (estimated)
- Lead sponsor
- Shaanxi Normal UniversityUniversity, hospital or other
- Study start
- 10 Apr 2026 (actual)
- Primary completion
- 10 Jun 2028 (estimated)
- Study completion
- 30 Jul 2028 (estimated)
- First posted
- 27 Mar 2026 (actual)
- Results
- Not posted in the source record
Clinical summary
The research question as the sponsor registered it. This describes what the study plans to test, not what it found.
Intrusive memories of traumatic events are a core feature of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and can cause substantial distress and functional impairment. Existing trauma-focused treatments are effective but often require deliberate recollection of traumatic experiences, which can be distressing for some individuals.
Previous experimental studies in healthy participants found that masked reactivation of trauma-related cues, followed after a brief interval by a visuospatial interference task using Tetris gameplay, reduced the frequency and emotional intensity of intrusive memories. Building on these findings, the present randomized controlled trial evaluates the efficacy of this intervention in trauma-exposed individuals experiencing three or more intrusive memories per week.
Detailed description
This randomized controlled trial aims to evaluate an intervention for reducing intrusive memories in trauma-exposed individuals. Participants will be randomly assigned to either an intervention group or a control group.
Before the intervention, participants assigned to the intervention group will provide images related to their traumatic experiences for use in the subsequent memory-reactivation procedure. The intervention group will undergo trauma-related memory reactivation, a music interval, and a visuospatial interference task, whereas the control group will complete only the visuospatial task. Intrusive memories and related symptoms will be assessed during follow-up.
Study design
- Primary purpose
- Treatment
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Masking
- Double blind (participant, investigator)
- Number of arms
- 2
| Arm | Type | Receives |
|---|---|---|
| Unconscious Reactivation | Experimental | Behavioral: Subliminal Reactivation Followed by Visuospatial InterferenceParticipants in this experimental arm will undergo subliminal (unconscious) reactivation of trauma-related memories. Trauma-related cues are presented below the threshold of conscious awareness. Following reactivation, participants complete a 10-minute music-listening task, after which they perform a computerized visuospatial interference task (Tetris) with mental rotation instructions. |
| No Reactivation Control | Sham comparator | Behavioral: Computer-based Visuospatial Task (Tetris)Participants in this control arm will not undergo trauma memory reactivation. They will proceed directly to a computerized visuospatial task (Tetris) with mental rotation instructions. This condition serves as a comparator for evaluating the effects of the experimental intervention while controlling for the nonspecific effects associated with engagement in the visuospatial task. |
Who may qualify
- Ages
- 18 to 50 years
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- Not accepted
- Age groups
- Adult
Key inclusion criteria (4 listed)
- Meet DSM-5 PTSD Criterion A (eg, exposure to actual or threatened death). Have experienced one or more traumatic events.
- Experienced three or more intrusive memories during the baseline week.
- Have internet access and have access to a personal computer.
- Be willing to provide consent and able to complete study procedures and be contacted by the study team.
Key exclusion criteria (3 listed)
- Have fewer than three intrusive memories during the baseline week.
- A current diagnosis of schizophrenia, obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), a severe personality disorder judged to interfere with treatment adherence, or acute suicidal behavior.
- Have severe substance dependence.
Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening; this overview does not establish that a patient qualifies. Full inclusion and exclusion criteria.
Interventions
| Intervention | Type | Arms |
|---|---|---|
| Subliminal Reactivation Followed by Visuospatial InterferenceIn each intervention session, participants are exposed subliminally to trauma-related cues. Participants then complete a 10-minute music-listening task during the post-reactivation interval, followed by a computerized visuospatial interference task (Tetris) with mental rotation instructions. | Behavioural | Unconscious Reactivation |
| Computer-based Visuospatial Task (Tetris)A computerized visuospatial task (Tetris) with mental rotation instructions. | Behavioural | No Reactivation Control |
Primary outcome
Number of trauma-related intrusive memories
Time frame: Day 30 - 36(all arms) controlling for baseline week
Number of trauma-related intrusive memories assessed via a daily diary.
9 secondary outcomes
Number of trauma-related intrusive memories
Time frame: Day 12 - 18 (all arms) controlling for baseline week
Clinician-Administered PTSD Scale for DSM-5 (CAPS-5)
Time frame: Baseline (day 0) and day 37 (all arms)
Intrusive memory ratings
Time frame: Baseline(day 0), Day 18, day 36, 2 months after the last intervention(all arms)
Post-Intervention Questionnaire
Time frame: Day1, 2, 10, 11, 19, 20, 28, 29 (all arms)
PTSD Checklist for DSM-5 (PCL-5)
Time frame: Baseline(day 0), day19, day37, 2 months after the last intervention(all arms)
Impact of Event Scale-Revised (IES-R)
Time frame: Baseline(day 0), day19, day37, 2 months after the last intervention(all arms)
Beck Depression Inventory-II (BDI-II)
Time frame: Baseline(day 0), day19, day37, 2 months after the last intervention(all arms)
State-Trait Anxiety Inventory-State version (STAI-S)
Time frame: Baseline(day 0), day19, day37, 2 months after the last intervention(all arms)
Work and Social Adjustment Scale (WSAS)
Time frame: Baseline(day 0), day19, day37, 2 months after the last intervention(all arms)
Results and safety
This study is still under way. Results are not available in the source record yet.
Research links
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govLast updated by the sponsor 2 Sep 2026.
- Individual participant dataSharing planned: Yes
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Referral and contact
AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals. Contact the study team or a site listed below; they decide who can take part.
1 site in 1 country: see every site and its status.
Questions about this trial
What is this clinical trial studying?
A study testing Subliminal Reactivation Followed by Visuospatial Interference and Computer-based Visuospatial Task (Tetris) in people with Post-traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and Intrusive Memories of Traumatic Event(s), run by Shaanxi Normal University at 1 site in China.
The full registered description is in the About this study section and the official record.
Who may be eligible to take part?
The sponsor lists 4 inclusion and 3 exclusion criteria. Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening, so read the full criteria and contact a listed site.
Is this clinical trial currently recruiting?
The record says: looking for participants now, as of the sponsor's last update on 2 Sep 2026. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.
Where is the study taking place?
The record lists 1 site in China. Whether a site is taking part right now should be confirmed with that site. See every site.
What are the possible benefits and risks?
They depend on the study and the treatment, and no study can promise a benefit. Some participants in this study may receive a placebo. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.
Are results available for this study?
This study is still under way. Results are not available in the source record yet.
How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?
Contact Zhu Zijian (+86 13572494696, zhuzijian0203@snnu.edu.cn), or a site near the patient. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.
What does the primary outcome measure?
Number of trauma-related intrusive memories (time frame: Day 30 - 36(all arms) controlling for baseline week). It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.
Where can I read the original study information?
Does a listing mean the treatment is approved or proven to work?
No. A listing means the study is registered. It does not show that the treatment is safe, works, or is approved by a regulator.
How often is this information updated?
AzTrials copies changed records from ClinicalTrials.gov every night and reloads the whole registry every week. The sponsor last updated this record on 2 Sep 2026.