Table 1 Summary characteristics of the 23 studies included in this review
From: Potential for use of tetris in the neonatal unit – a scoping review
Tetris | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Title | Authors | Journal | Population | Context | Concept | Methodology | Key findings |
Playing the computer game Tetris prior to viewing traumatic film | James et al. (2015) [14] | Psychological Science | Expt trial group n=52 | Watching traumatic film | Playing tetris would disrupt reconsolidation of traumatic memories | 12 min film Recall of memory +Tetris played 24 hr later Diary of IMs for 1/52 | Can’t do 2 things at once Is any double task effective? Fewer IMs in Tetris group vs control Need recall + Tetris to be effective |
Visuospatial computer game play after memory reminder delivered three days after a traumatic film reduces the number of intrusive memories of the experimental trauma | Kessler et al. (2020) [38] | Journal of Behavioral Therapy and Experimental Psychiatry | Expt trial n=86 | Watching traumatic film | Playing tetris would disrupt reconsolidation of traumatic memories | Film Recall of memory + Played Tetris or pub quiz 3/7 after first exposure to film | Both games reduced IMs even 3 days later Tetris more effective |
Improving mental health and physiological stress responses in mothers following traumatic childbirth and in their infants: study protocol for the Swiss TrAumatic birth Trial (START) | Sandoz et al. (2019) [3] | BMJ Open | Clinical trial (START) n=144 | Following traumatic birth | Playing Tetris will reduce IMs | RCT Play Tetris within 6 hr of delivery | Outcome unknown |
Trauma, treatment and Tetris: video gaming increases hippocampal volume in male patients with combat-related posttraumatic stress disorder | Butler et al. (2020) [39] | Journal of Psychiatry and Neuroscience | Ex-army personnel inpatients with established PTSD n=40 | No neuro imaging has been assessed following Tetris use in those with existing PTSD | Playing Tetris will demonstrate neurological effect | Tetris 60 min each day for 6/52 Also receiving EMDR at same time | Increased hippocampal grey matter ad volume Reduced PTSD, depression and anxiety |
Preventative efforts in the aftermath of analogue trauma: The effects of Tetris and exercise on intrusive images | Bruhl et al. (2019) [40] | Journal of Behavioral Therapy and Experimental Psychiatry | Expt trial n=71 | Aerobic exercise may help reduce IMs | Will tetris, cycling or being sedentary have an effect on traumatic memory recall | Played Tetris, cycled or remain sedentary for 25 min Kept diary | no intervention was effective without prior recall of the trauma 1/52 later |
Using a brief mental imagery competing task to reduce the number of intrusive memories: exploratory case series with trauma exposed women | Thorarinsdottir et al. (2022) [41] | Journal of MIR Formative Research | Clinical trial Est or sub threshold PTSD n=3 | Novel interventions may help reduce IMs | Playing tetris will reduce number of IMs | Cue reminder Tetris for 25 min Kept diary at 1/12 and 3/12 | Reduction in number of IMs from baseline to 3 mths |
Visuospatial working memory tasks may not reduce the intensity or distress of intrusive memories | Badawi, Steel and Berle (2022) [42] | Frontiers in Psychiatry Frontiers Research Foundation | Expt trial Public volunteers n=110 | Tetris or digital task may help reduce IMs | Intensity and distress of IMs may be reduced through VS tasks | RCT Watch film 10.5 min Play Tetris or Digital Corsi task for 12 min Kept diary | After 4 hr and recording in diary Intensity and distress of IMs not reduced |
Selectively Interfering With Intrusive but Not Voluntary Memories of a Trauma Film: Accounting for the Role of Associative Memory | Lau-Zhu, Henson and Holmes (2021) [43] | Clinical Psychological Science | Clinical trial Est PTSD n=36 | Watched traumatic film | Is playing Tetris effective on its own, or is recall of memory necessary | X11 3 sec Traumatic film stills watched Tetris 10 min Diary | Fewer IMs in first week with Tetris group |
Reducing intrusive memories after trauma via a brief cognitive task intervention in the hospital emergency department: and exploratory pilot randomized controlled trial | Kanstrup et al. (2021) [44] | Translational Psychiatry | Clinical trial ED patients N=41 | Exposure to trauma such as RTA or fall | Within 72 hours of attending ED, playing Tetris will reduce IMs | Played Tetris within 72 hours 10 min consecutively 20 min total | No -ve feedback Simple, scaleable, cost-effective Fewer IMs after 1/52 and 5/52 |
Investigating the frequency of intrusive memories after 24 hours using a visuospatial interference intervention: a follow-up and extension | Brennen et al. (2021) [45] | European Journal of Psycho-traumatology | Clinical trial n=149 | Watched film and either did nothing, played Tetris with prior recall, or without prior recall | Freq of IMs will reduce 24hr post Tetris | Trauma analogue film 12 min Tetris 12 min Kept diary of IMs for 8 days | No sig diff between groups on day 1, 2, 8 |
Preventing intrusive memories after trauma via a brief intervention involving Tetris computer game play in the emergency department: a proof-of-concept randomized controlled trial | Iyadurai et al. (2018) [5] | Molecular Psychiatry | Patients in ED after motor vehicle accident n=71 | Play Tetris within 6 hr of accident | Playing tetris will reduce number of IMs at 1 wk and 1 mth | RCT Play tetris 20 min | Less IMs at 1/52, but not at 1/12 ? use any VS game |
Mobilum – a new mobile app to engage visuospatial processing for the reduction of intrusive visual memories | Kessler et al. (2018) [38] | mHealth | Expt trial Inpatients receiving psycho-therapeautic treatment n=16 | Play the game | Playing an alternative visuospatial game will be as effective as Tetris | Pilot study Played game 15 min over 5/7 | Task was difficult and caused frustration |
Tetris and Word games lead to fewer intrusive memories when applied several days after analogue trauma | Hagenaars et al. (2017) [46] | European journal of psycho-traumatology | students n=54 | On recall memories return to WM and are labile | Undertaking a VS task days later will still be effective in reducing IMs | RCT Aversive film Tetris or game played with or without recall on day 4 IM diary kept day zero-4, and day 4-8 | Word game was more effective than Tetris (minimal evidence as word game may have been more difficult to play) |