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Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) has devastating health consequences. Evidence-based PTSD interventions address the substantial burden of PTSD on the health of individuals and societies; however, several individuals receiving these interventions drop out and not all individuals experience improvement in PTSD symptoms. Moreover, these current PTSD interventions primarily target trauma memories. Notably, growing evidence suggests that PTSD symptoms are related to difficulties in the encoding and retrieving of positive memories as well.
Thus, the proposed study will examine effects of and targets underlying a novel PTSD technique focused on narrating and detailing positive memories - Processing of Positive Memories Technique (PPMT). Methodologically, 70 individuals will be randomly assigned to PPMT vs. Supportive Counseling (SC) for this study.
The aims of the proposed study include (1) examining PPMT's effects on PTSD symptom severity and stress systems' dysregulation (i.e., awakening salivary alpha amylase [sAA] and cortisol); (2) examining mechanisms underlying PPMT's effects; and (3) refining PPMT. It is hypothesized that the PPMT arm will report greater decreases in PTSD severity and sAA/cortisol ratios. Further, it is hypothesized that PPMT-related improved affect will mediate the association between study arm (PPMT vs. SC) and changes in PTSD severity. Lastly, feedback will be obtained from study participants on PPMT's feasibility, format, and content to refine PPMT.
The proposed study may contribute preliminary evidence on the potential significance of targeting positive memories in PTSD interventions.
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| Label | Type | Description | Intervention Names |
|---|---|---|---|
| Processing of Positive Memories Technique (PPMT) | Active Comparator | Participants receive 5 60-minute Processing of Positive Memories Technique (PPMT) sessions for PTSD following the treatment procedures as outlined in PPMT therapy manual. |
|
| Supportive Counseling (SC) | Active Comparator | Participants receive 5 60-minute supportive counseling (SC) sessions. SC includes a discussion of the daily monitoring diary and exploration of current issues and concerns. |
|
| Name | Type | Description | Arm Group Labels | Other Names |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Processing of Positive Memories Technique (PPMT) | Behavioral | PPMT comprises of 5 sessions focused on identifying and processing positive memories. In Session 1-5, participants narrate details of one positive memory, and process the positive memory to elicit positive values, affect, strengths, and thoughts. |
| Measure | Description | Time Frame |
|---|---|---|
| Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Checklist for DSM-5 scores | PTSD symptom severity is assessed using 20 items with response options ranging from 0 = not at all to 4 = extremely. | Baseline |
| Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Checklist for DSM-5 scores | PTSD symptom severity is assessed using 20 items with response options ranging from 0 = not at all to 4 = extremely. | Week 1 post-baseline during therapy session |
| Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Checklist for DSM-5 scores | PTSD symptom severity is assessed using 20 items with response options ranging from 0 = not at all to 4 = extremely. | Week 2 post-baseline during therapy session |
| Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Checklist for DSM-5 scores | PTSD symptom severity is assessed using 20 items with response options ranging from 0 = not at all to 4 = extremely. | Week 3 post-baseline during therapy session |
| Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Checklist for DSM-5 scores | PTSD symptom severity is assessed using 20 items with response options ranging from 0 = not at all to 4 = extremely. | Week 4 post-baseline during therapy session |
| Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Checklist for DSM-5 scores | PTSD symptom severity is assessed using 20 items with response options ranging from 0 = not at all to 4 = extremely. | Week 5 post-baseline during therapy session |
| Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Checklist for DSM-5 scores |
| Measure | Description | Time Frame |
|---|---|---|
| Saliva Samples | Salivary alpha amylase and cortisol output will be assessed. | 3 times each day for 2 consecutive days prior to first therapy session |
| Saliva Samples | Salivary alpha amylase and cortisol output will be assessed. |
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Inclusion Criteria:
Exclusion Criteria:
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| Name | Affiliation | Role |
|---|---|---|
| Ateka Contractor, PHD | University of North Texas Health Science Center | Principal Investigator |
| Facility | Status | City | State | ZIP | Country | Contacts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| University of North Texas | Denton | Texas | 76203 | United States |
| PubMed Identifier | Type | Citation | Retractions |
|---|---|---|---|
| 42172818 | Derived | Contractor AA, Rosenfield D, Almeida IM, Wang S, Taylor DJ, Weiss NH, Shea MT. Comparison of the processing of positive memories technique and supportive counseling for posttraumatic stress disorder: A randomized controlled trial. Behav Res Ther. 2026 May 19;203:105087. doi: 10.1016/j.brat.2026.105087. Online ahead of print. | |
| 38253251 | Derived | Contractor AA, Blumenthal H, Rosenfield D, Shea MT, Taylor DJ, Fentem A, Vingren JL. Study protocol and rationale for a pilot randomized clinical trial comparing processing of positive memories technique with supportive counseling for PTSD. Contemp Clin Trials. 2024 Mar;138:107455. doi: 10.1016/j.cct.2024.107455. Epub 2024 Jan 20. |
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| Release Date | Unrelease Date | Unrelease Date Unknown | Reset Date | MCP Release Number |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jun 15, 2026 |
| ID | Term |
|---|---|
| D013313 | Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic |
| ID | Term |
|---|---|
| D040921 | Stress Disorders, Traumatic |
| D000068099 | Trauma and Stressor Related Disorders |
| D001523 | Mental Disorders |
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| Supportive Counseling (SC) | Behavioral | SC is a 5-session, active and non-specific treatment administered weekly, which includes a discussion of the daily monitoring diary and exploration of current issues and concerns. |
|
PTSD symptom severity is assessed using 20 items with response options ranging from 0 = not at all to 4 = extremely. |
| 1 week after last therapy session |
| Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Checklist for DSM-5 scores | PTSD symptom severity is assessed using 20 items with response options ranging from 0 = not at all to 4 = extremely. | 3-month post treatment completion |
| 3 times each day for 2 consecutive days after the last therapy session |
| Positive and Negative Affect Schedule | Positive and negative affect is assessed using 20 items with response options ranging from 1 = not at all/very slightly to 5 = extremely. | Baseline |
| Positive and Negative Affect Schedule | Positive and negative affect is assessed using 20 items with response options ranging from 1 = not at all/very slightly to 5 = extremely. | Week 1 post-baseline during therapy session |
| Positive and Negative Affect Schedule | Positive and negative affect is assessed using 20 items with response options ranging from 1 = not at all/very slightly to 5 = extremely. | Week 2 post-baseline during therapy session |
| Positive and Negative Affect Schedule | Positive and negative affect is assessed using 20 items with response options ranging from 1 = not at all/very slightly to 5 = extremely. | Week 3 post-baseline during therapy session |
| Positive and Negative Affect Schedule | Positive and negative affect is assessed using 20 items with response options ranging from 1 = not at all/very slightly to 5 = extremely. | Week 4 post-baseline during therapy session |
| Positive and Negative Affect Schedule | Positive and negative affect is assessed using 20 items with response options ranging from 1 = not at all/very slightly to 5 = extremely. | Week 5 post-baseline during therapy session |
| Positive and Negative Affect Schedule | Positive and negative affect is assessed using 20 items with response options ranging from 1 = not at all/very slightly to 5 = extremely. | 1 week after last therapy session |