Examining Effects of a Therapeutic Focus on Positive Memories on Post-Trauma Health

NCT05523453 | Completed

• 1 other identifier: R15MH129773-01A1
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 70
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

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.

Conditions

Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic; Affect; Memory

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (8)

• 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

  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

Secondary Outcomes (9)

• Saliva Samples

  3 times each day for 2 consecutive days prior to first therapy session

• Saliva Samples

  3 times each day for 2 consecutive days after the last therapy session

• Positive and Negative Affect Schedule

  Baseline

• Positive and Negative Affect Schedule

  Week 1 post-baseline during therapy session

• Positive and Negative Affect Schedule

  Week 2 post-baseline during therapy session

Study Arms (2)

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.

Behavioral: Processing of Positive Memories Technique (PPMT)

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.

Behavioral: Supportive Counseling (SC)

Interventions

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.

Processing of Positive Memories Technique (PPMT)

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.

Supportive Counseling (SC)

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 18 Years - 65 Years
• Sex: all
• Healthy Volunteers: No
• Age Groups: Adult (18-64), Older Adult (65+)

You may qualify if:

• years old
• Willing/able to provide informed consent
• Past month DSM-5 posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) diagnosis
• Working knowledge of English

You may not qualify if:

• Active suicidal intent or attempts
• Active psychosis
• Currently receiving mental health therapy (past 3 months)
• Dosage changes in psychiatric medications (past 3 months)
• Currently pregnant

Sponsors & Collaborators

• University of North Texas, Denton, TX: lead

Study Sites (1)

University of North Texas

Denton, Texas, 76203, United States

Location

Related Publications (1)

• 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.

  PMID: 38253251 DERIVED

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Stress Disorders, Traumatic; Trauma and Stressor Related Disorders; Mental Disorders

Study Officials

• Ateka Contractor, PHD

  University of North Texas Health Science Center

  PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: not applicable
• Allocation: RANDOMIZED
• Masking: DOUBLE
• Who Masked: PARTICIPANT, OUTCOMES ASSESSOR
• Purpose: TREATMENT
• Intervention Model: PARALLEL
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
• PI Title: Associate Professor

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: August 24, 2022
• First Posted: August 31, 2022
• Study Start: February 23, 2023
• Primary Completion: February 19, 2025
• Study Completion: February 19, 2025
• Last Updated: September 29, 2025

Record last verified: 2025-09

Data Sharing

• IPD Sharing: Will not share

Locations

US (1)