Abstract:
Childhood trauma can lead to decreased executive functions and increase the risk of experiencing severe psychological problems. Within residential care, most youths have a history of traumatic life experiences, but applying trauma-focused treatment remains difficult. In the present study, we conducted a randomized controlled trial (RCT) to test the effectiveness of a gamified mindfulness-based relaxation intervention (Muse) on youths’ post-traumatic stress symptoms and executive functions. Twenty-eight youths were randomly assigned to play Muse or receive treatment as usual (TAU). Self- and mentor-reported post-traumatic stress symptoms as well as mentor-reported executive functions were measured both at baseline and post-treatment. Results showed a decrease on self-reported post-traumatic stress symptoms for the Muse-condition, compared to the control condition. No differences between the conditions were found regarding mentor-reported post-traumatic stress symptoms and executive functions. Our findings provide preliminary evidence for the effectiveness of Muse in a high-risk youth population and lead to the discussion of suggestions for future research.
