Posttraumatic stress disorder and positive memories: Clinical considerations

Exploratory examination of clinician perspectives on positive memories and post‐traumatic stress disorder interventions

“…Significant dropout rates (Imel, Laska, Jakcupcak, & Simpson, ) and a lack of therapeutic effectiveness for all clients (Cusack et al, ) indicate a need to build upon and refine existing PTSD interventions. One potential modification would be to incorporate positive memories into existing trauma‐focused interventions (Contractor et al, ). As a starting point, we explored clinicians’ perspectives on format, content, and feasibility/acceptability indicators of a potential PTSD‐specific technique enhancing the recall and processing of positive memories (i.e., a positive memory processing technique).…”

“…One question examined clinicians’ perspectives on the benefits of processing positive memories for PTSD symptoms. This question inquired about potential improvements in affect, positive thoughts, ability to retrieve additional positive memories, therapeutic alliance, and attitude towards engaging in trauma‐focused interventions, as well as decrease in distress and PTSD symptom severity (Contractor et al, ). An additional question queried clinicians’ perspectives on whether using a positive memory processing technique would decrease dropout rates for trauma‐focused interventions.…”

“…The first question in this section queried clinicians on which components would maximise therapeutic benefits; these included discussing versus writing about positive memories (e.g., Powers, Halpern, Ferenschak, Gillihan, & Foa, ; Sloan, Marx, Bovin, Feinstein, & Gallagher, ); identifying positive values, affect, strengths, and thoughts linked with positive memories (Contractor et al, ); obtaining affect ratings pre‐ and post‐processing of positive memories, as done in trauma‐focused interventions (Foa et al, ); and incorporating relaxation (Mohs et al, ). The second question examined clinicians’ perspectives on whether an assessment of the intensity and valence of emotions would need to be conducted during the processing of positive memories.…”

“…Using two questions, we examined clinicians’ perspectives on the anticipated satisfaction and tolerability of this intervention among clients receiving it. Lastly, one question inquired about barriers to implementing the described positive memory processing technique; examples included an increase in the number of sessions and clinician resources/time, and lack of extensive intervention research for incorporating positive memories into PTSD interventions (Contractor et al, ).…”

“…Positive memory processes such as recall, retention, and formation difficulties may contribute to the a etiology and/or maintenance of PTSD symptoms (e.g., Bernsten & Rubin, ; De Quervain et al, ; Porter & Peace, ). Despite growing evidence linking positive memories and PTSD (Contractor, Banducci, Dolan, Keegan, & Weiss, ; Contractor et al, ), PTSD interventions primarily target trauma memories (Schnurr, ). Importantly, a PTSD‐specific technique enhancing the recall and processing of positive memories (i.e., a positive memory processing technique) may (a) augment intervention effects (Contractor et al, ), (b) regulate mood adaptively (Rusting & Nolen‐Hoeksema, ), and (c) increase positive interpretations of events (Rusting & DeHart, ; Rusting & Larsen, ).…”