Moving Toward and Through Trauma: Participant Experiences of Multi-Modal Motion-Assisted Memory Desensitization and Reconsolidation (3MDR)

Tristin Hamilton; Lisa Burback; Lorraine Smith-MacDonald; Chelsea Jones; Matthew R G Brown; Cynthia Mikolas; Emily Tang; Kaitlin O'Toole; Priyanka Vergis; Anna Merino; Kyle Weiman; Eric H G J M Vermetten; Suzette Brémault-Phillips

doi:10.3389/fpsyt.2021.779829

Moving Toward and Through Trauma: Participant Experiences of Multi-Modal Motion-Assisted Memory Desensitization and Reconsolidation (3MDR)

Front Psychiatry. 2021 Dec 22:12:779829. doi: 10.3389/fpsyt.2021.779829. eCollection 2021.

Authors

Tristin Hamilton¹, Lisa Burback^{1

2}, Lorraine Smith-MacDonald^{1

3}, Chelsea Jones^{1

4

5}, Matthew R G Brown^{1

2

6}, Cynthia Mikolas¹, Emily Tang¹, Kaitlin O'Toole¹, Priyanka Vergis¹, Anna Merino¹, Kyle Weiman¹, Eric H G J M Vermetten^{5

7

8}, Suzette Brémault-Phillips^{1

3}

Affiliations

¹ Heroes in Mind, Advocacy and Research Consortium (HiMARC), Faculty of Rehabilitation Medicine, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada.
² Department of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada.
³ Department of Occupational Therapy, Faculty of Rehabilitation Medicine, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada.
⁴ Department of Psychiatry, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, Netherlands.
⁵ Edmonton Operational Stress Injury Clinic, Alberta Health Services, Edmonton, AB, Canada.
⁶ Department of Computing Science, Faculty of Science, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada.
⁷ Department of Psychiatry, ARQ National Psychotrauma Center, Diemen, Netherlands.
⁸ Military Mental Health Care, Ministry of Defense, Utrecht, Netherlands.

Abstract

Introduction: Military members and Veterans are at risk of developing combat-related, treatment-resistant posttraumatic stress disorder (TR-PTSD) and moral injury (MI). Conventional trauma-focused therapies (TFTs) have shown limited success. Novel interventions including Multi-modal Motion-assisted Memory Desensitization and Reconsolidation therapy (3MDR) may prove successful in treating TR-PTSD. Objective: To qualitatively study the experiences of Canadian military members and Veterans with TR-PTSD who received the 3MDR intervention. Methods: This study explored qualitative data from a larger mixed-method waitlist control trial testing the efficacy of 3MDR in military members and veterans. Qualitative data were recorded and collected from 3MDR sessions, session debriefings and follow-up interviews up to 6 months post-intervention; the data were then thematically analyzed. Results: Three themes emerged from the data: (1) the participants' experiences with 3MDR; (2) perceived outcomes of 3MDR; and (3) keys to successful 3MDR treatment. Participants expressed that 3MDR provided an immersive environment, active engagement and empowerment. The role of the therapist as a coach and "fireteam partner" supports the participants' control over their therapy. The multi-modal nature of 3MDR, combining treadmill-walking toward self-selected trauma imagery with components of multiple conventional TFTs, was key to helping participants engage with and attribute new meaning to the memory of the traumatic experience. Discussion: Preliminary thematic analysis of participant experiences of 3MDR indicate that 3MDR has potential as an effective intervention for combat-related TR-PTSD, with significant functional, well-being and relational improvements reported post-intervention. Conclusion: Military members and Veterans are at risk of developing TR-PTSD, with worse outcomes than in civilians. Further research is needed into 3MDR and its use with other trauma-affected populations.

Keywords: 3MDR; PTSD; military; moral injury; trauma; veteran; virtual reality.