The Lóa Study: A Brief Digital Intervention for Women With Intrusive Memories in the SAGA Cohort

The number of intrusive memories of traumatic events recorded by participants in a brief daily online intrusive memory diary for 7 days.

The number of intrusive memories of traumatic events recorded by participants in a brief daily online intrusive memory diary for 7 days.

A 20-item questionnaire assessing the severity of PTSD symptoms corresponding to the DSM-5 criteria for PTSD. Items are rated on a 5-point Likert scale ranging from 0 ("not at all") to 4 ("extremely"). Scores are summed to give a total severity score (ranging 0 to 80).

A 7-item questionnaire assessing the frequency of disruptive nocturnal behaviours (e.g., acting out dreams, episodes of terror or screaming). Respondents report symptoms over the past month on a 4-point Likert scale, ranging from 0 ("never in the past month") to 3 ("three or more times each week"). Total score ranges from 0 to 21 with higher scores indicating worse symptoms.

An 11 item questionnaire about cognitive functions in particular memory and concentration. Items are rated on a 5-point scale, from 1 ("every day") to 5 ("never"). Total scores range from 11 to 55; higher scores indicate less concentration and memory difficulties.

A 9-item questionnaire assessing depression symptoms and their severity. Items are scored from 0 ( "not at all") to 3 ( "nearly every day"). The total score is the sum of all items and ranges from 0 to 27.

A 7-item questionnaire assessing severity of anxiety symptoms. Items are rated for how often they have bothered the respondent over the last two weeks, from 0 ("not at all") to 3 ("nearly every day"). The total score is the sum of all items and ranges from 0 to 21.

A questionnaire assessing functional impairment across three domains: (1) Work/school, (2) social, and (3) family life. Domains are measured on an 11-point Likert scale, ranging from 0 ("not at all") to 10 ("extremely"). The scale is adapted to assess functional impairment associated with intrusive memories. The total score is the sum of all items and ranges from 0 to 30.

16-item measure to assess quality of life on a 7-point Likert scale, ranging from 7 ("delighted") to 1 ("terrible"). The domains that are assessed are the following: (1) Social and community activities, (2) material and physical wellbeing, (3) relationships with other people, (4) personal development and fulfilment, and (5) recreation. The total score is the sum of all items and ranges from 16 to 112.

A 12-item questionnaire assessing difficulties due to health conditions, including mental or emotional problems (with reference to intrusive memories). Respondents rate how much difficulty they have had in each area in the past 30 days, from 0 ("none") to 4 ("extreme or cannot do"). The overall score is calculated as a percentage of the maximum possible score (i.e., 48 points). Lower scores indicate better functioning.

2-items measuring the general impact of intrusive memories in terms of level of distress and vividness associated with the intrusions on a 11-point scale (ranging from 0 to 10), rated at the end of each diary week. High scores indicate higher levels of distress/vividness.

Four questions to assess acceptability and feasibility of the both interventions. Rated on a 11-point scale (0 to 10) to measure the extent to which the individual would recommend the intervention and whether they consider it to be an acceptable way to reduce the frequency of intrusive memories. In addition, in this study, we include 1 item on the type of digital device used and 2 open-ended questions about the experience of using the digital platform.

A free-text response field measuring the occurrence of any health problems since the last contact.

6-item questionnaire that rates to what degree the participant finds the intervention credible on a 11-point scale from 0 to 10. High scores indicate greater credibility.

A 7-item questionnaire will assess participants' experience of using the intervention. The first five items assess how easy, helpful, distressing, burdensome and interesting participants found the intervention. This was assessed on a 11-point scale ranging from 0 ("not at all") to 10 ("very"). The last 2 free-text items ask how the brief cognitive task could be improved, and for any other comments.