Tetris for PTSD: Video Game Reduces Traumatic Memories, Study Finds

A familiar game of falling, rotating blocks may offer a surprising new avenue for mental health treatment. Researchers at Uppsala University in Sweden have found that playing Tetris could help reduce the debilitating symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Their findings, published in The Lancet Psychiatry, detail a novel approach to mitigating intrusive memories in healthcare workers impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic.

A New Approach to PTSD Symptoms

The study focused on 99 healthcare professionals experiencing trauma related to their work during the COVID-19 pandemic. Researchers targeted the treatment of intrusive memories – a hallmark symptom of PTSD. According to the Inserm, these memories can manifest as flashbacks, unwanted thoughts, nightmares, or heightened fear responses.

Visualizing and Rotating to Reduce Trauma

The research team, collaborating with specialists from the Universities of Cambridge and Oxford, first asked participants to briefly recall a traumatic memory without detailed description. They then introduced the concept of mental rotation – a cognitive skill involving visualizing objects in different orientations. This led to the development of the Imagery Competing Task Intervention (ICTI), which involved playing Tetris while consciously rotating the blocks mentally, but at a slower pace, with sessions lasting approximately 20 minutes.

Did You Know? Approximately 5% of the global population will develop post-traumatic stress disorder during their lifetime, according to the World Health Organization.

The ICTI method is designed to occupy the brain’s visuospatial areas, competing with the vividness and emotional impact of visual flashbacks, ultimately reducing their frequency.

Significant Reduction in Intrusive Memories

To compare the effectiveness of ICTI, participants were divided into groups. One group listened to Mozart’s music, known for its stress-reducing qualities, and podcasts. A second group received standard PTSD care. The results showed that those who underwent the ICTI treatment experienced ten times fewer intrusive memories than the other two groups four weeks after the intervention began. Encouragingly, the benefits of ICTI appeared to be long-lasting.

Six months after treatment, 70% of participants who received ICTI reported no intrusive memories – a “spectacular reduction” compared to the control groups, according to the researchers.

Expert Insight: The study’s success hinges on the principle of cognitive interference – occupying the brain with a demanding task to disrupt the consolidation of traumatic memories. This approach offers a potentially accessible and non-invasive method for managing PTSD symptoms.

The Uppsala University team plans to test the treatment on larger, more diverse groups. They also aim to develop a self-administered version of the intervention, potentially making this therapeutic approach more widely available.

Frequently Asked Questions

What was the primary focus of the study?

The study focused on reducing intrusive memories, a key symptom of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), in healthcare workers who experienced trauma during the COVID-19 pandemic.

How did the researchers use Tetris in the treatment?

Participants were asked to play Tetris while consciously rotating the blocks mentally, a technique called the Imagery Competing Task Intervention (ICTI), designed to compete with visual flashbacks.

How long did the benefits of the Tetris intervention last?

The study found that the benefits of the ICTI treatment persisted for at least six months, with 70% of participants reporting no intrusive memories at that point.

Could a widely accessible digital tool for managing PTSD symptoms be on the horizon, offering new hope for those struggling with the lasting effects of trauma?