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

NCT ID: NCT05523453

Last Updated: 2025-09-29

Basic Information

• Recruitment Status: COMPLETED
• Clinical Phase: NA
• Total Enrollment: 70 participants
• Study Classification: INTERVENTIONAL
• Study Start Date: 2023-02-23
• Study Completion Date: 2025-02-19

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

Study Design

• Allocation Method: RANDOMIZED
• Intervention Model: PARALLEL
• Primary Study Purpose: TREATMENT
• Blinding Strategy: DOUBLE

Study Groups

Processing of Positive Memories Technique (PPMT)

Participants receive 5 60-minute Processing of Positive Memories Technique (PPMT) sessions for PTSD following the treatment procedures as outlined in PPMT therapy manual.

Group Type: ACTIVE_COMPARATOR

Processing of Positive Memories Technique (PPMT)

Intervention Type: 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.

Supportive Counseling (SC)

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.

Group Type: ACTIVE_COMPARATOR

Supportive Counseling (SC)

Intervention Type: 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.

Interventions

Processing of Positive Memories Technique (PPMT)

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.

Intervention Type: BEHAVIORAL

Supportive Counseling (SC)

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.

Intervention Type: BEHAVIORAL

Eligibility Criteria

Inclusion Criteria

• 18-65 years old
• Willing/able to provide informed consent
• Past month DSM-5 posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) diagnosis
• Working knowledge of English

Exclusion Criteria

• 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

• Minimum Eligible Age: 18 Years
• Maximum Eligible Age: 65 Years
• Eligible Sex: ALL
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No

Sponsors

University of North Texas, Denton, TX

OTHER

Sponsor Role: lead

Responsible Party

Ateka Contractor

Associate Professor

Responsibility Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

Principal Investigators

Ateka Contractor, PHD

Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

University of North Texas Health Science Center

Locations

University of North Texas

Denton, Texas, United States

Countries

United States

References

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.

Reference Type: DERIVED

PMID: 38253251 (View on PubMed)

Other Identifiers

R15MH129773-01A1

Identifier Type: NIH

Identifier Source: org_study_id

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