Method for relieving invasive memory of mental disorder patient

Abstract

The invention discloses a method for relieving invasive memory of a mental disorder patient, and relates to the technical field of mental health. The invention discloses a method for relieving invasive memory of a mental disorder patient. The method comprises the following steps of patient inquiry and baseline evaluation, graph selection, individualized masking threshold determination, unconscious activation and cognitive intervention, dynamic adjustment, rotation and repetition, treatment setting and evaluation. According to the method, the wound memory network is automatically activated on the subconsciousness level by presenting the wound masking picture which cannot be consciously perceived by the patient, so that the key step that the patient must actively recall the wound image in a painful manner in the prior art is thoroughly replaced, and a cognitive task (Tetris) is linked to obtain a cognitive result. And the interference on the unconsciously activated memory traces is realized. In the whole treatment process, the patient does not need to consciously face wounds, secondary psychological injury is fundamentally avoided, the safety and compliance of treatment are remarkably improved, and the problem of high exit rate caused by pain in the process of a traditional therapy is expected to be solved.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the field of mental health technology, and more specifically to a method for alleviating intrusive memories in patients with mental disorders. Background Technology

[0002] Cognitive task-based trauma intervention is an emerging non-pharmacological, non-invasive psychological intervention method. One representative approach utilizes the classic game "Tetris" to help alleviate symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). The theoretical basis of this method primarily stems from cognitive psychology theories regarding working memory competition and memory reconsolidation. This theory posits that human working memory cognitive resources are finite. When an individual is recalling a traumatic memory (a process that heavily relies on visuospatial working memory) while simultaneously performing a task that consumes a large amount of similar cognitive resources (such as visuospatial processing ability), competition arises. This competition can interfere with the reconsolidation process of traumatic memories, thereby weakening the vividness of the memory and the accompanying emotional intensity. Tetris, as a task highly dependent on visuospatial perception and manipulation, effectively occupies visuospatial working memory and has therefore been explored as an intervention tool. Specifically, the intervention process typically requires, within a specific time window after the traumatic event (i.e., when the memory is in an unstable reconsolidation phase), guiding the subject to actively retrieve the traumatic memory and immediately engaging in a period of Tetris play. Clinical studies have shown that this "memory retrieval + cognitive task interference" model can significantly reduce the frequency of invasive flashbacks of traumatic memories, providing a convenient early intervention method for those with acute trauma exposure (such as accident victims and first responders).

[0003] Current Tetris interventions, based on the theory of memory reconsolidation, still inevitably rely on patients actively and painfully re-experiencing traumatic memories to achieve effectiveness. Although the intervention aims to weaken memories through subsequent Tetris games, its effectiveness depends on first activating the "reconsolidation" window of the target traumatic memory. Participants are required to consciously retrieve and briefly recreate the traumatic image in their minds. While this step is shorter than traditional exposure therapy, it essentially forces individuals to confront their most painful experience again, thus failing to fundamentally avoid the risk of secondary psychological harm.

[0004] This deliberate "reactivation" of traumatic memories constitutes the main clinical drawback of this method: Triggering distress and emotional distress: For patients with severe trauma, even brief memories can trigger significant anxiety and distress, and there is a risk of causing a temporary exacerbation of symptoms.

[0005] Limited applicability and compliance: Many patients with severe avoidance symptoms may refuse treatment or drop out midway because they are unable or unwilling to endure the pain of this step, thus limiting the practical application of this method.

[0006] The underlying cause of the high dropout rate: This is the same problem faced by traditional therapies, and has become an inherent obstacle to the widespread adoption of this technology.

[0007] Therefore, although the Tetris intervention is more appealing in form, its core mechanism still remains within the traditional paradigm of "achieving therapeutic effects at the cost of painful exposure." This highlights the urgent need in the field for a novel strategy that can effectively intervene in traumatic memories without relying on active, painful retrieval. Summary of the Invention

[0008] The purpose of this invention is to provide a method for alleviating intrusive memories in patients with mental disorders, and to solve the problem of obtaining therapeutic effects at the cost of painful exposure.

[0009] To achieve the above objectives, the present invention provides the following technical solution: A method for alleviating intrusive memories in patients with mental disorders includes the following steps: patient interviewing and baseline assessment, image selection, determination of individualized masking thresholds, unconscious activation and cognitive intervention, dynamic adjustment, rotation and repetition, treatment setup, and assessment. S1. Patient Inquiry and Baseline Assessment: Through initial interviews, understand the patient's traumatic experience and identify key visual cues that trigger their intrusive memories. Key visual cues are specific objects or scenes. S2. Image Selection: Collaborate with the patient to select or generate cue images that best represent the "hot spots" of their traumatic memories; S3. Determine the individualized masking threshold: Add visual noise to the cue images and gradually increase the noise intensity until the patient cannot consciously recognize them under rapid presentation conditions, and determine the individualized subthreshold stimulus intensity. S4. Unconscious Activation and Cognitive Intervention: During the treatment phase, cue images are first presented rapidly at a noise intensity threshold determined in S3 to achieve unconscious activation of traumatic memories. Subsequently, after completing a 10-minute music filler task, the patient engages in a 20-minute Tetris game while being required to perform mental rotation operations to compete with and interfere with visuospatial working memory. S5. Dynamic adjustment: During the treatment process, if the patient consciously recognizes the picture or experiences emotional distress, the noise intensity can be increased in real time through button feedback to ensure that the stimulation is always at an unconscious level. S6. Rotation and Repetition: For different "hot spots" of the same memory or different traumatic memories, change the cue pictures and repeat the above steps S4-S5. S7. Treatment settings: Each treatment lasts approximately 25 minutes, and multiple treatments can be scheduled as needed; S8. Assessment: After treatment, we will conduct a comprehensive assessment of the patient's recovery and, based on the assessment results, develop a plan that includes multiple treatments and long-term management to reduce the invasiveness of the treatment and minimize its impact on the patient's memory.

[0010] The beneficial effects of this invention are as follows: This application proposes a method for unconscious memory intervention based on masking stimuli. This method automatically activates the trauma memory network at the subconscious level by presenting masked trauma images that the patient cannot consciously perceive, thereby completely replacing the key step in existing technologies that require the patient to actively and painfully recall trauma images. Subsequently, by connecting a cognitive task (Tetris), the unconsciously activated memory traces are interfered with. Throughout the treatment process, the patient does not need to consciously confront the trauma, fundamentally avoiding secondary psychological harm, significantly improving the safety and compliance of the treatment, and potentially solving the problem of high dropout rates caused by the painful process in traditional therapies.

[0011] The above description is merely an overview of the technical solution of the present invention. In order to better understand the technical means of the present invention and to implement it in accordance with the contents of the specification, the preferred embodiments of the present invention are described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Attached Figure Description

[0012] Figure 1 This is a graphical flowchart illustrating an embodiment of the present invention.

[0013] Figure 2 This is a text flowchart illustrating an embodiment of the present invention. Detailed Implementation

[0014] The technical solution of the present invention will now be clearly and completely described with reference to the accompanying drawings. Obviously, the described embodiments are only some, not all, of the embodiments of the present invention. Based on the embodiments of the present invention, all other embodiments obtained by those skilled in the art without creative effort are within the scope of protection of the present invention.

[0015] In the description of this invention, it should be noted that the terms "first," "second," and "third" are used for descriptive purposes only and should not be construed as indicating or implying relative importance.

[0016] In the description of this invention, it should be noted that, unless otherwise explicitly specified and limited, the terms "installation," "connection," and "linking" should be interpreted broadly. For example, they can refer to a fixed connection, a detachable connection, or an integral connection; they can refer to a mechanical connection or an electrical connection; they can refer to a direct connection or an indirect connection through an intermediate medium; and they can refer to the internal connection of two components. Those skilled in the art can understand the specific meaning of the above terms in this invention based on the specific circumstances.

[0017] Furthermore, the technical features involved in the different embodiments of the present invention described below can be combined with each other as long as they do not conflict with each other.

[0018] Please see Figure 1 A preferred embodiment of this application describes a method for alleviating intrusive memories in patients with mental disorders, characterized by comprising the following steps: patient inquiry and baseline assessment, image selection, determination of individualized masking thresholds, unconscious activation and cognitive intervention, dynamic adjustment, rotation and repetition, treatment setup, and assessment. S1. Patient Inquiry and Baseline Assessment: Through initial interviews, understand the patient's traumatic experience and identify key visual cues that trigger their intrusive memories. Key visual cues are specific objects or scenes. S2. Image Selection: Collaborate with the patient to select or generate cue images that best represent the "hot spots" of their traumatic memories; S3. Determine the individualized masking threshold: Add visual noise to the cue images and gradually increase the noise intensity until the patient cannot consciously recognize them under rapid presentation conditions, and determine the individualized subthreshold stimulus intensity. S4. Unconscious Activation and Cognitive Intervention: During the treatment phase, cue images are first presented rapidly at a noise intensity threshold determined in S3 to achieve unconscious activation of traumatic memories. Subsequently, after completing a 10-minute music filler task, the patient engages in a 20-minute Tetris game while being required to perform mental rotation operations to compete with and interfere with visuospatial working memory. S5. Dynamic adjustment: During the treatment process, if the patient consciously recognizes the picture or experiences emotional distress, the noise intensity can be increased in real time through button feedback to ensure that the stimulation is always at an unconscious level. S6. Rotation and Repetition: For different "hot spots" of the same memory or different traumatic memories, change the cue pictures and repeat the above steps S4-S5. S7. Treatment settings: Each treatment lasts approximately 25 minutes, and multiple treatments can be scheduled as needed; S8. Assessment: After treatment, we will conduct a comprehensive assessment of the patient's recovery and, based on the assessment results, develop a plan that includes multiple treatments and long-term management to reduce the invasiveness of the treatment and minimize its impact on the patient's memory.

[0019] This method combines unconscious activation of traumatic memories with cognitive load tasks to interfere with the reconsolidation process of visuospatial working memory without triggering significant emotional responses in patients, thereby weakening the intensity and frequency of intrusive memories. This provides a feasible technical approach for non-pharmacological intervention of mental disorders. This study further validates the effectiveness of this method in reducing the intrusiveness of trauma-related memories.

[0020] After multiple rounds of intervention, patients exhibited significantly reduced emotional arousal and avoidance behaviors in response to previously triggering visual cues, and their subjective distress scores continued to decline. Combined with changes in objective neurological indicators, this confirmed that the method effectively modulates brain network activity patterns related to memory reconsolidation, and that the effects are task-specific. Subsequent follow-up showed that the intervention benefits remained stable over several weeks, providing a feasible direction for clinical translation.

[0021] In summary, this invention provides a method for alleviating intrusive memories in patients with mental disorders. This method automatically activates the trauma memory network at the subconscious level by presenting masked traumatic images that the patient is unaware of, thereby completely replacing the key step in existing technologies that require the patient to actively and painfully recall the traumatic images. Subsequently, a cognitive task (Tetris) is used to interfere with the unconsciously activated memory traces. Throughout the treatment process, the patient does not need to consciously confront the trauma, fundamentally avoiding secondary psychological harm, significantly improving the safety and compliance of the treatment, and potentially solving the problem of high dropout rates caused by the painful process of traditional therapies.

[0022] The technical features of the above embodiments can be combined in any way. For the sake of brevity, not all possible combinations of the technical features in the above embodiments are described. However, as long as there is no contradiction in the combination of these technical features, they should be considered to be within the scope of this specification.

[0023] The embodiments described above are merely illustrative of implementation methods of the present invention, and while the descriptions are specific and detailed, they should not be construed as limiting the scope of the invention patent. It should be noted that those skilled in the art can make various modifications and improvements without departing from the concept of the present invention, and these all fall within the protection scope of the present invention. Therefore, the protection scope of this invention patent should be determined by the appended claims.

Claims

1. A method for alleviating intrusive memories in patients with mental disorders, characterized in that, The procedures include: patient interviewing and baseline assessment, image selection, determining individualized masking thresholds, unconscious activation and cognitive intervention, dynamic adjustment, rotation and repetition, treatment setup, and assessment. S1. Patient Inquiry and Baseline Assessment: Through initial interviews, understand the patient's traumatic experience and identify key visual cues that trigger their intrusive memories. Key visual cues are specific objects or scenes. S2. Image Selection: Collaborate with the patient to select or generate cue images that best represent the "hot spots" of their traumatic memories; S3. Determine the individualized masking threshold: Add visual noise to the cue images and gradually increase the noise intensity until the patient cannot consciously recognize them under rapid presentation conditions, and determine the individualized subthreshold stimulus intensity. S4. Unconscious Activation and Cognitive Intervention: During the treatment phase, cue images are first presented rapidly at a noise intensity threshold determined in S3 to achieve unconscious activation of traumatic memories. Subsequently, after completing a 10-minute music filler task, the patient engages in a 20-minute Tetris game while being required to perform mental rotation operations to compete with and interfere with visuospatial working memory. S5. Dynamic adjustment: During the treatment process, if the patient consciously recognizes the picture or experiences emotional distress, the noise intensity can be increased in real time through button feedback to ensure that the stimulation is always at an unconscious level. S6. Rotation and Repetition: For different "hot spots" of the same memory or different traumatic memories, change the cue pictures and repeat the above steps S4-S5. S7. Treatment settings: Each treatment lasts approximately 25 minutes, and multiple treatments can be scheduled as needed; S8. Assessment: After treatment, we will conduct a comprehensive assessment of the patient's recovery and, based on the assessment results, develop a plan that includes multiple treatments and long-term management to reduce the invasiveness of the treatment and minimize its impact on the patient's memory.

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