An open-label, randomized controlled trial of the reconsolidation of traumatic memories protocol (RTM) in military women.

Objective: PTSD in female veterans and service members (SMs) is understudied, and new, effective treatments for PTSD are needed. Reconsolidation of Traumatic Memories (RTM) is a brief, manualized treatment for PTSD previously piloted in RCTs of male veterans and SMs. Here we examine RTM's effect on military women with PTSD. Method: We report a waitlist RCT using 30 military-connected females with DSM-IV-TR PTSD diagnoses, including current-month nightmares or flashbacks. Trauma types include military sexual trauma, other sexual traumas, combat, and other trauma types. Participants were randomized to treatment or waitlist. Of those enrolled, 97% completed treatment. Independent psychometricians, blinded to treatment condition, evaluated participants at intake, postwait, and two weeks post. The clinician took follow-up measures at six months and one year. The primary measure was the PTSD Symptom Scale-Interview (PSS-I). The secondary measure was the PTSD Checklist. Participants received up to three 120-min sessions of RTM. Results: RTM eliminated intrusive symptoms and significantly decreased symptom scale ratings in 90% (n = 27) of participants, versus 0% of controls (p < .001). Two-week treatment group PSS-I scores dropped 33.9 points versus 3.9 points for postwait controls (g = 3.7; 95% CI [2.5, 4.8]; p < .001). Treatment results were stable to 1 year. Conclusions: RTM effectively treated PTSD, independent of trauma source in female SMs and veterans effectively replicating previous results in male populations. Further research is recommended. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2022 APA, all rights reserved).

Reconsolidation of Traumatic Memories for PTSD: A randomized controlled trial of 74 male veterans.

Design: A randomized waitlist-controlled design (n = 74) examined the efficacy of Reconsolidation of Traumatic Memories (RTM) among male veterans with current-month flashbacks and nightmares. Volunteers were randomly assigned to immediate treatment (three 120-minute sessions of RTM), or to a 3-week waiting condition before receiving the RTM treatment. Blinded psychometricians evaluated the symptoms at intake, 2 weeks, and 6 weeks post. Wait-listed participants were re-evaluated and then treated. Sixty-five volunteers completed the treatment. Results: Of those treated, 46 (71%) lost DSM diagnosis for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) by one of the following definitions: 42 persons (65%) were in complete remission (PTSD Symptom Scale Interview (PSS-I) ≤ 20 and DSM criteria not met). Four others (6%) lost the DSM diagnosis or were otherwise sub-clinical by dichotomous criteria (PSS-I < 20 and absence of flashbacks and nightmares) but non-ambiguous on the PTSD Checklist Military Version measures. Within-group RTM effect sizes (Hedges' g) for PSS-I score changes ranged from 1.45 to 2.3. The between-group comparison between the treatment group and the untreated controls was significant (p < .001) with an effect size equivalent to two standard deviations (g = 2.13; 95% CI [1.56, 2.70]). Patient satisfaction with the intervention was high. Conclusions: RTM shows promise as a brief, cost-effective intervention for PTSD characterized primarily by intrusive symptoms. Clinical or methodological significance of this article: The article provides evidence to support a fast (5 hours or fewer) robust intervention for PTSD characterized by intrusive symptoms including current-month flashbacks, nightmares, and accompanied by sympathetic arousal in response to trauma narratives. The intervention is well tolerated and has demonstrated efficacy up to one year.