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

August 6, 2026 updated by: Ateka Contractor, University of North Texas, Denton, TX

Examination and Refinement of a Novel Treatment for Posttraumatic Stress Disorder: Processing of Positive Memories Technique (PPMT)

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.

Study Overview

Status

Completed

Conditions

Intervention / Treatment

Study Type

Interventional

Enrollment (Actual)

70

Phase

  • Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

This section provides the contact details for those conducting the study, and information on where this study is being conducted.

Study Locations

  • United States
    • Texas
      • Denton, Texas, United States, 76203
        • University of North Texas

Participation Criteria

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria. Some examples of these criteria are a person's general health condition or prior treatments.

Eligibility Criteria

Ages Eligible for Study

18 years to 65 years (Adult, Older Adult)

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Description

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

Study Plan

This section provides details of the study plan, including how the study is designed and what the study is measuring.

How is the study designed?

Design Details

  • Primary Purpose: Treatment
  • Allocation: Randomized
  • Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
  • Masking: Double

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm
Intervention / Treatment
Active Comparator: 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.
Behavioral: 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.
Active Comparator: 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.
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.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Checklist for DSM-5 (PCL-5) Scores
Time Frame: Baseline
The 20-item self-report PTSD Checklist for DSM-5 (PCL-5) assessed past-week posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) severity. Response options ranged from 0 (not at all) to 4 (extremely), with the possible range being from 0 to 80. Higher scores indicate more PTSD symptom severity.
Baseline
Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Checklist for DSM-5 (PCL-5) Scores
Time Frame: Week 1 post-baseline during therapy session
The 20-item self-report PTSD Checklist for DSM-5 (PCL-5) assessed past-week posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) severity. Response options ranged from 0 (not at all) to 4 (extremely), with the possible range being from 0 to 80. Higher scores indicate more PTSD symptom severity.
Week 1 post-baseline during therapy session
Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Checklist for DSM-5 (PCL-5) Scores
Time Frame: Week 2 post-baseline during therapy session
The 20-item self-report PTSD Checklist for DSM-5 (PCL-5) assessed past-week posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) severity. Response options ranged from 0 (not at all) to 4 (extremely), with the possible range being from 0 to 80. Higher scores indicate more PTSD symptom severity.
Week 2 post-baseline during therapy session
Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Checklist for DSM-5 (PCL-5) Scores
Time Frame: Week 3 post-baseline during therapy session
The 20-item self-report PTSD Checklist for DSM-5 (PCL-5) assessed past-week posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) severity. Response options ranged from 0 (not at all) to 4 (extremely), with the possible range being from 0 to 80. Higher scores indicate more PTSD symptom severity.
Week 3 post-baseline during therapy session
Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Checklist for DSM-5 (PCL-5) Scores
Time Frame: Week 4 post-baseline during therapy session
The 20-item self-report PTSD Checklist for DSM-5 (PCL-5) assessed past-week posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) severity. Response options ranged from 0 (not at all) to 4 (extremely), with the possible range being from 0 to 80. Higher scores indicate more PTSD symptom severity.
Week 4 post-baseline during therapy session
Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Checklist for DSM-5 (PCL-5) Scores
Time Frame: Week 5 post-baseline during therapy session
The 20-item self-report PTSD Checklist for DSM-5 (PCL-5) assessed past-week posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) severity. Response options ranged from 0 (not at all) to 4 (extremely), with the possible range being from 0 to 80. Higher scores indicate more PTSD symptom severity.
Week 5 post-baseline during therapy session
Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Checklist for DSM-5 (PCL-5) Scores
Time Frame: 1 week after the last therapy session, at week 6 post-baseline
The 20-item self-report PTSD Checklist for DSM-5 (PCL-5) assessed past-week posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) severity. Response options ranged from 0 (not at all) to 4 (extremely), with the possible range being from 0 to 80. Higher scores indicate more PTSD symptom severity.
1 week after the last therapy session, at week 6 post-baseline
Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Checklist for DSM-5 (PCL-5) Scores
Time Frame: 3-months posttreatment completion, at week 18 post-baseline
The 20-item self-report PTSD Checklist for DSM-5 (PCL-5) assessed past-week posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) severity. Response options ranged from 0 (not at all) to 4 (extremely), with the possible range being from 0 to 80. Higher scores indicate more PTSD symptom severity.
3-months posttreatment completion, at week 18 post-baseline

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Awakening Salivary Alpha Amylase to Cortisol Ratio
Time Frame: 3 times each day for 2 consecutive days prior to first therapy session
Via a passive drool procedure, participants provided 3 whole saliva samples each day for 2 consecutive days both prior to PPMT/SC: (1) immediately upon awakening, (2) 30 minutes post-awakening, and (3) 60 minutes post-awakening. For each marker, for each day, area under the curve with respect to ground (AUCg) was calculated. The two-day average AUCg of sAA was then divided by the two-day average AUCg of cortisol to create the ratio variable. Higher sAA/cortisol ratio indicates greater stress system dysregulation and sympathetic nervous system dominance.
3 times each day for 2 consecutive days prior to first therapy session
Awakening Salivary Alpha Amylase to Cortisol Ratio
Time Frame: 3 times each day for 2 consecutive days after the last therapy session
Via a passive drool procedure, participants provided 3 whole saliva samples each day for 2 consecutive days one week following PPMT/SC: (1) immediately upon awakening, (2) 30 minutes post-awakening, and (3) 60 minutes post-awakening. For each marker, for each day, area under the curve with respect to ground (AUCg) was calculated. The two-day average AUCg of sAA was then divided by the two-day average AUCg of cortisol to create the ratio variable. Higher sAA/cortisol ratio indicates greater stress system dysregulation and sympathetic nervous system dominance.
3 times each day for 2 consecutive days after the last therapy session
Positive and Negative Affect Schedule
Time Frame: Baseline

The 20-item Positive and Negative Affect Schedule (PANAS) examined past-week positive and negative affect levels. There were 10 items for each of the PANAS-Positive and PANAS-Negative subscales, which measure past-week positive and negative affect respectively.

Response options ranged from 1 (not at all/very slightly) to 5 (extremely), with the possible range being from 10 to 50 for each subscale. Higher scores mean more self-reported positive affect and negative affect for the PANAS-Positive and PANAS-Negative subscales respectively.
Baseline
Positive and Negative Affect Schedule
Time Frame: Week 1 post-baseline during therapy session

The 20-item Positive and Negative Affect Schedule (PANAS) examined past-week positive and negative affect levels. There were 10 items for each of the PANAS-Positive and PANAS-Negative subscales, which measure past-week positive and negative affect respectively.

Response options ranged from 1 (not at all/very slightly) to 5 (extremely), with the possible range being from 10 to 50 for each subscale. Higher scores mean more self-reported positive affect and negative affect for the PANAS-Positive and PANAS-Negative subscales respectively.
Week 1 post-baseline during therapy session
Positive and Negative Affect Schedule
Time Frame: Week 2 post-baseline during therapy session

The 20-item Positive and Negative Affect Schedule (PANAS) examined past-week positive and negative affect levels. There were 10 items for each of the PANAS-Positive and PANAS-Negative subscales, which measure past-week positive and negative affect respectively.

Response options ranged from 1 (not at all/very slightly) to 5 (extremely), with the possible range being from 10 to 50 for each subscale. Higher scores mean more self-reported positive affect and negative affect for the PANAS-Positive and PANAS-Negative subscales respectively.
Week 2 post-baseline during therapy session
Positive and Negative Affect Schedule
Time Frame: Week 3 post-baseline during therapy session

The 20-item Positive and Negative Affect Schedule (PANAS) examined past-week positive and negative affect levels. There were 10 items for each of the PANAS-Positive and PANAS-Negative subscales, which measure past-week positive and negative affect respectively.

Response options ranged from 1 (not at all/very slightly) to 5 (extremely), with the possible range being from 10 to 50 for each subscale. Higher scores mean more self-reported positive affect and negative affect for the PANAS-Positive and PANAS-Negative subscales respectively.
Week 3 post-baseline during therapy session
Positive and Negative Affect Schedule
Time Frame: Week 4 post-baseline during therapy session

The 20-item Positive and Negative Affect Schedule (PANAS) examined past-week positive and negative affect levels. There were 10 items for each of the PANAS-Positive and PANAS-Negative subscales, which measure past-week positive and negative affect respectively.

Response options ranged from 1 (not at all/very slightly) to 5 (extremely), with the possible range being from 10 to 50 for each subscale. Higher scores mean more self-reported positive affect and negative affect for the PANAS-Positive and PANAS-Negative subscales respectively.
Week 4 post-baseline during therapy session
Positive and Negative Affect Schedule
Time Frame: Week 5 post-baseline during therapy session

The 20-item Positive and Negative Affect Schedule (PANAS) examined past-week positive and negative affect levels. There were 10 items for each of the PANAS-Positive and PANAS-Negative subscales, which measure past-week positive and negative affect respectively.

Response options ranged from 1 (not at all/very slightly) to 5 (extremely), with the possible range being from 10 to 50 for each subscale. Higher scores mean more self-reported positive affect and negative affect for the PANAS-Positive and PANAS-Negative subscales respectively.
Week 5 post-baseline during therapy session
Positive and Negative Affect Schedule
Time Frame: 1 week after the last therapy session, at week 6 post-baseline

The 20-item Positive and Negative Affect Schedule (PANAS) examined past-week positive and negative affect levels. There were 10 items for each of the PANAS-Positive and PANAS-Negative subscales, which measure past-week positive and negative affect respectively.

Response options ranged from 1 (not at all/very slightly) to 5 (extremely), with the possible range being from 10 to 50 for each subscale. Higher scores mean more self-reported positive affect and negative affect for the PANAS-Positive and PANAS-Negative subscales respectively.
1 week after the last therapy session, at week 6 post-baseline
Positive and Negative Affect Schedule
Time Frame: 3-months posttreatment completion, at week 18 post-baseline

The 20-item Positive and Negative Affect Schedule (PANAS) examined past-week positive and negative affect levels. There were 10 items for each of the PANAS-Positive and PANAS-Negative subscales, which measure past-week positive and negative affect respectively.

Response options ranged from 1 (not at all/very slightly) to 5 (extremely), with the possible range being from 10 to 50 for each subscale. Higher scores mean more self-reported positive affect and negative affect for the PANAS-Positive and PANAS-Negative subscales respectively.
3-months posttreatment completion, at week 18 post-baseline

Collaborators and Investigators

This is where you will find people and organizations involved with this study.

Sponsor

University of North Texas, Denton, TX

Investigators

  • Principal Investigator: Ateka Contractor, PHD, University of North Texas Health Science Center

Publications and helpful links

The person responsible for entering information about the study voluntarily provides these publications. These may be about anything related to the study.

General Publications

Study record dates

These dates track the progress of study record and summary results submissions to ClinicalTrials.gov. Study records and reported results are reviewed by the National Library of Medicine (NLM) to make sure they meet specific quality control standards before being posted on the public website.

Study Major Dates

Study Start (Actual)

March 23, 2023

Primary Completion (Actual)

February 19, 2025

Study Completion (Actual)

February 19, 2025

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

August 24, 2022

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

August 29, 2022

First Posted (Actual)

August 31, 2022

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Actual)

August 31, 2026

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

August 6, 2026

Last Verified

August 1, 2026

More Information

Terms related to this study

Additional Relevant MeSH Terms

Other Study ID Numbers

  • R15MH129773-01A1 (U.S. NIH Grant/Contract)

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?

NO

Drug and device information, study documents

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product

No

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product

No

product manufactured in and exported from the U.S.

No

This information was retrieved directly from the website clinicaltrials.gov without any changes. If you have any requests to change, remove or update your study details, please contact register@clinicaltrials.gov. As soon as a change is implemented on clinicaltrials.gov, this will be updated automatically on our website as well.

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