Can we develop a "cognitive vaccine" for intrusive memories of traumatic events from working in the COVID-19 pandemic? A novel and brief intervention to support ICU staff

Intensive care unit (ICU) staff face repeated exposure to traumatic work-related events and have reported high levels of posttraumatic symptoms during the pandemic. Novel, scalable and preventative interventions are required.

We are developing a “cognitive vaccine” approach for ICU staff against one key symptom – intrusive memories of traumatic events. These are unwanted, distressing and disrupt functioning.

Our novel, brief gameplay intervention is repeatable, flexible, non-stigmatising, scalable, and driven by mental health science.

This digital intervention is guided by an initial session of psychologist support, then self-administered; delivered same day or months post-trauma, suitable for repeated trauma exposure, fits with busy lives of ICU staff, without discussing trauma detail.

Part 1 uses a Bayesian design to optimise and co-develop procedures with ICU professionals and move at speed under pandemic conditions, allowing limited rollout (guided-version) in these unprecedented times.

Part 2 uses a pragmatic RCT (three arms: guided/non-guided/attention-control) testing clinical effectiveness and acceptability to inform clinical practice. If the non-guided intervention is effective (i.e. no psychologist support) it will accelerate the speed of rollout.

Meanwhile through global mental health workshops with stakeholder communities we seek to understand the views of various communities worldwide regarding implementation of this novel intervention form.