Clinical trial NCT06680193: Therapeutic Effects of the Processing of Positive Memories Technique on Posttrauma Health
Official title: Daily Affect and Cognition Impacts of Processing of Positive Memories Technique (PPMT) in a Trauma-Exposed Community Sample
Study type: INTERVENTIONAL
Overall status: COMPLETED
Phase: NA
Conditions: Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder
Keywords: Posttrauma Health
Positive Autobiographical Memories
Trauma
Lead sponsor: University of North Texas, Denton, TX
Sponsor class: OTHER
Collaborators: name: University of Haifa, Israel
First posted: 2024-11-08
Enrollment: 70
Sex: ALL
Minimum age (years): 18
Maximum age (years): 65
Standard ages: ADULT
OLDER_ADULT
Accepts healthy volunteers: no
Allocation: NA
Intervention model: SINGLE_GROUP
Primary purpose: TREATMENT

Brief summary: The current study will examine daily-level impacts of a technique addressing positive memory retrieval on thoughts, feelings, and health among individuals with trauma experiences.

Detailed description: Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is primarily a memory encoding- and retrieval-based disorder. If untreated, there are significant physical, psychological, social, and economic impacts for an individual, their families, and the society broadly. Research demonstrates that positive memory processes contribute to the etiology and maintenance of PTSD symptoms. Indeed, difficulties in retrieving and discussing positive memories are amplified among individuals with PTSD. Further, interventions capitalizing on (positive) memory retrieval have been linked to enhanced psychological well-being.

Considering this literature, the Processing of Positive Memories Technique (PPMT) was developed as a promising new treatment approach for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), which involves detailed narration and processing of specific positive autobiographical memories. This study uses an innovative research protocol that combines case-series design and daily diary approaches to the effects of PPMT on daily affect, daily cognitions, and daily PTSD symptoms. It is hypothesized that at the daily level, in comparison to their an individual's pre-PPMT levels, following the PPMT intervention, participants will report (1) a lower count of endorsed daily PTSD symptoms, (2) increases in daily positive affect and decreases in daily negative affect, (3) increases in positive affect reactivity to daily positive events, and (4) decreases in daily posttrauma cognitions.

Eligibility criteria: Inclusion Criteria:

* being aged between 18 and 65 years
* endorsing a trauma with posttrauma symptoms
* access to an electronic device with internet capabilities
* working knowledge of English
* being a current resident of the Dallas Fort Worth metroplex
* willingness and availability to participate in approximately 10 weeks of this study (including 4 therapy sessions)
* willingness to be video-recorded during sessions for quality control purposes

Exclusion Criteria:

* active suicidal plan, suicidal attempt, homicidal plan, or homicidal attempt (past 3 months including current)
* currently in therapy with a mental health provider

Primary outcomes:
measure: Daily negative and positive affect levels
timeFrame: Each day for 21 days prior to and after the intervention and each survey references the past 24 hours
measure: Daily positive events
timeFrame: Each day for 21 days prior to and after the intervention and each survey references the past 24 hours
measure: Daily posttrauma cognitions
timeFrame: Each day for 21 days prior to and after the intervention and each survey references the past 24 hours
measure: Daily PTSD symptoms
timeFrame: Each day for 21 days prior to and after the intervention and each survey references the past 24 hours
measure: Number of retrieved positive memories
timeFrame: Baseline survey approximately 4 weeks prior to the intervention
measure: Number of retrieved positive memories
timeFrame: 1 week after intervention sessions
Secondary outcomes:
measure: Positive Emotion Dysregulation
timeFrame: Baseline survey approximately 4 weeks prior to the intervention
measure: Positive Emotion Dysregulation
timeFrame: 1 week after intervention sessions
measure: Positive Emotion Dysregulation
timeFrame: At each of the 4 weekly intervention sessions and each survey references the past week
measure: PTSD symptom severity
timeFrame: Baseline survey approximately 4 weeks prior to the intervention
measure: PTSD symptom severity
timeFrame: 1 week after intervention sessions
measure: PTSD symptom severity
timeFrame: At each of the 4 weekly intervention sessions and each survey references the past week
Other outcomes:
Locations:
city: Denton
country: United States
facility: University of North Texas
state: Texas
Study officials:
References:
citation: Greene T, Contractor AA, Dicker-Oren SD, Fentem A, Sznitman SR. The Effects of the Processing of Positive Memories Technique on Posttrauma Affect and Cognitions Among Survivors of Trauma: Protocol for a Daily Diary Study. JMIR Res Protoc. 2024 Jan 12;13:e51838. doi: 10.2196/51838.