Symposia
Program / Treatment Design
Danielle M. Morabito, M.S.
Doctoral student
Florida State University
Tallahassee, Florida
Brad B. Schmidt, Ph.D.
Professor and Chair
Florida State University, Psychology Department
Tallahassee, Florida
Background: Tonic Immobility (TI) is a common defensive response in situations involving extreme fear such as physical and sexual assault. Although TI is adaptive in certain circumstances, it has been shown to contribute to increases in negative emotions such as guilt and shame, as well as PTSD symptoms. Psychoeducation regarding the nature, prevalence, and common misconceptions about TI may help prevent or address these symptoms. However, TI is not directly addressed in current evidence-based interventions for trauma survivors. Thus, the current study aimed to develop and evaluate a brief web-based TI-focused psychoeducation intervention (TIP).
Methods: Fifty-three adults reporting a TI experience and elevated PTSD symptoms (PCL-5 > 33) were recruited. First, a pilot study was conducted (N = 6; Mage = 18.50) to obtain initial acceptability data and further refine the intervention. Then, a randomized controlled trial (RCT) evaluating TIP vs. a time-matched health education control condition was initiated (N = 47; Mage = 21.26). At the initial study appointment, participants completed informed consent, a pre-intervention survey, the randomly assigned intervention, and a post-intervention survey. Participants completed 1-week and 1-month follow-up surveys online. Data collection is ongoing, and additional data will be available for presentation.
Results: Results from the pilot study demonstrated high acceptability (MCSQ = 26.80; 100% rated TIP easy to understand and helpful). On average, participants rated shame 23% lower (t = 3.40, d = 1.39, p = .019 ) and guilt 21% lower at post-intervention (t = 1.95, d = 0.80, p = .109). Initial results from the RCT suggest that TIP produces significantly greater reductions in guilt than the control condition (t = -1.48, β = -.21, p =.038). Additionally, among the limited sample (n = 20) with 1 Month Follow-Up data available thus far, we see trending reductions in posttraumatic stress symptoms (t = -1.62, β = -.28, p =.124) and posttraumatic cognitions (t = -1.83, β = -.23, p =.086).
Conclusions: Our preliminary results suggest that TIP is a promising intervention to reduce negative feelings, cognitions, and symptoms associated with TI during a trauma. Given the ease of dissemination, TIP may be used as a broad preventative or indicated intervention, or as an add-on to existing evidence-based treatments for PTSD. Additional research is needed to determine the acceptability and efficacy of TIP in specific vulnerable populations.