Motion-Assisted, Multi-Modal Memory Desensitization and Reconsolidation Therapy for Posttraumatic Stress Disorder in Women with a History of Sexual Trauma

Background: Women military service members (SMs) are more likely to have posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) related to sexual assault, highlighting a need for the development and validation of therapies. A new exposure-based therapy called motion-assisted, multi-modal memory desensitization and reconsolidation (3MDR) uses participant-chosen music and images and an eye movement (EM) task in a virtual environment. Motion-assisted, multi-modal memory desensitization and reconsolidation has shown effectiveness in treating treatment-resistant male veterans; thus, this paper focuses expressly on the utility of 3MDR in female study participants, who were 50% of the full study population. Methods: Participants with probable PTSD and mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI) completed 10 sessions of 3MDR. They provided songs and images representative of their trauma(s). While walking on a treadmill, participants confronted up to 7 of their trauma images while keywords were superimposed over the images. Half the participants were randomized to an eye movement task (EM+). The primary outcome was the change in posttraumatic stress disorder checklist for DSM-5 (PCL-5) score from pre- to post-intervention, with 3- and 6-month follow-ups. Results: All women participants had a history of sexual trauma and showed statistically and clinically significant improvement in symptom severity. The decline in mean PCL-5 scores was greater for women than for men (none of whom reported sexual trauma), though the difference was not statistically significant. Although a small sample size, the results suggest clinically meaningful sex differences. Conclusion: Motion-assisted, multi-modal memory desensitization and reconsolidation is an effective and powerful intervention for female SMs and veterans with a history of sexual trauma. Further investigation with larger sample sizes is needed.