Provision of services for trauma- and stressor-related (TSR) disorders during a pandemic: Investigating the Utility of Reconsolidation Therapy Delivered Online

The COVID-19 pandemic has induced a variety of trauma- and stressor-related (TSR) disorders in the population, according to a large international online survey conducted by our research team in May 2020. There currently exists a knowledge gap in our capacity to diagnose and treat these common mental disorders in confinement settings (e.g., via tele-heath). We aim to build capacity by (1) training providers to deliver an evidence-based treatment (Reconsolidation Therapy) using an on-line delivery format and (2) pilot-testing Reconsolidation Therapy, an evidence-based treatment developed by our team to treat TSR disorders, and (3) disseminate widely this knowledge via project partner, the Canadian Psychological Association. We will be using both quantitative (statistics) and qualitative (narratives generated by group interviews) methods to adapt current diagnostic assessments to an online format, as well as evaluate the treatment ease of delivery and (preliminary) efficacy. Considering the uncertainty of the COVID-19 pandemic and its duration, our project will contribute to the development of secure, accessible, and evidence-based online treatments for STRD that meets the needs of patients and treatment providers in Canada and beyond.