Quantitative changes inmental healthmeasures with 3MDR treatment for Canadian militarymembers and veterans

Objective: Military members and veterans are at elevated risk of treatment-resistant posttraumatic stress disorder (TR-PTSD) due to higher rates of exposure to potentially
traumatic events during the course of duty. Knowledge of TR-PTSD is limited, and specific protocols or evidence-based TR-PTSD therapies are lacking. Multimodal motion-assisted memory desensitization and reconsolidation (3MDR) therapy is an emerging intervention for combat-related TR-PTSD. The purpose of this study was to preliminarily assess the effectiveness of 3MDR in addressing TR-PTSD in Canadian militarymembers and veterans.

Methods: This study is a longitudinal mixed-methods clinical trial. English-speaking military members and veterans aged 18–60 with TR-PTSD were recruited to  participate. The intervention consisted of six sessions of 3MDR therapy. Quantitative data were collected pretreatment, posttreatment, and longitudinally at 1, 3, and 6 months after completion of 3MDR.

Results: Results from the first 11 participants to complete the 3MDR protocol exhibited statistically significant improvement (surviving multiple comparison correction)
in clinically administered and self-reported scores for PTSD (CAPS-5 and PCL-5), moral injury (MISS-M-SF), depression (PHQ-9), anxiety (GAD-7), emotional regulation
(DERS-18), and resilience (CD-RS-25).

Conclusion: The preliminary and exploratory results from this clinical trial support the growing body of literature illustrating 3MDR as an effective treatment for  militaryrelated TR-PTSD. These results are notable given participants’ previous lack of success with frontline psychotherapeutic and pharmacological interventions. Given that there are currently very limited treatment options for TR-PTSD, 3MDR could prove to be a valuable treatment option for militarymembers and veterans with TR-PTSD.