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

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: Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic; Affect; Memory
• Intervention / Treatment: Behavioral: Processing of Positive Memories Technique (PPMT); Behavioral: Supportive Counseling (SC)

• Study Type: Interventional
• Enrollment (Actual): 70
• Phase: Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

Study Locations

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

Participation Criteria

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

How is the study designed?

Design Details

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

Number of Arms

2

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 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 Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	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.	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

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: University of North Texas, Denton, TX
• Investigators: Principal Investigator: Ateka Contractor, PHD, University of North Texas Health Science Center

Publications and helpful links

General Publications

• 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.

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Actual): February 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 (Estimated): September 29, 2025
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: September 23, 2025
• Last Verified: September 1, 2025

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Trauma and Stressor Related Disorders; Mental Disorders; Stress Disorders, Traumatic; Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic
• 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