Can Playing Tetris Reduce Flashbacks After Trauma?
Author Information
Author(s): Emily A. Holmes, Ella L. James, Thomas Coode-Bate, Catherine Deeprose
Primary Institution: Department of Psychiatry, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
Hypothesis
Playing 'Tetris' half an hour after viewing trauma would reduce flashback frequency over 1-week.
Conclusion
Playing 'Tetris' after viewing traumatic material reduces unwanted flashbacks to that traumatic film.
Supporting Evidence
- Participants who played Tetris experienced significantly fewer flashbacks over the week compared to those who did not.
- Recognition memory for the trauma film was intact across both groups.
- Playing Tetris reduced clinical symptomatology related to trauma at one week.
Takeaway
Playing a game like Tetris after seeing something scary can help you forget about it better.
Methodology
Participants viewed a traumatic film and were then randomly assigned to play Tetris or do nothing for 10 minutes before monitoring flashbacks for a week.
Potential Biases
Potential biases in self-reported flashback frequency and symptomatology.
Limitations
The study's findings may not generalize to all types of trauma or to real-world settings outside the laboratory.
Participant Demographics
40 participants aged 18-47 years, mean age 23, with 22 males.
Statistical Information
P-Value
p<0.05
Statistical Significance
p<0.05
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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