Positive Memory Therapy for PTSD

Overseen By Holly Wang

Age: 18+

Sex: Any

Travel: May Be Covered

Trial Phase: Academic

Sponsor: University of North Texas, Denton, TX

Disqualifiers: Suicidal intent, Psychosis, Mental health therapy, others

No Placebo Group All trial participants will receive the active study treatment (no placebo)

Compensation: Varies

Number of Visits: 8

Duration: 5 weeks

70 Participants Needed

Trial Summary

What is the purpose of this trial?

This trial tests a new method called PPMT that helps people with PTSD by focusing on happy memories. It targets those who haven't fully benefited from existing treatments. By remembering and discussing positive experiences, it aims to reduce symptoms and improve mood. PPMT is a novel technique developed to help PTSD patients by focusing on positive memories, and it has been piloted among trauma-exposed individuals.

Will I have to stop taking my current medications?

The trial does not specify if you need to stop taking your current medications, but you cannot participate if you've had dosage changes in psychiatric medications in the past 3 months.

What data supports the effectiveness of the treatment Processing of Positive Memories Technique (PPMT) for PTSD?

An open label pilot study showed that PPMT led to statistically reliable improvements in PTSD severity for 9 out of 12 participants, with 8 showing recovery or improvement. It also showed positive changes in depression severity, negative emotions, and posttrauma thoughts, suggesting PPMT may be effective for PTSD and related symptoms. ^{1 2 3 4 5}

Is Positive Memory Therapy for PTSD safe for humans?

The available studies on the Processing of Positive Memories Technique (PPMT) for PTSD suggest it is generally safe, with participants reporting improved mood and positive thoughts. No significant safety concerns were identified in the pilot studies, and participants found the therapy feasible and engaging. ^{1 2 3 6 7}

How is Positive Memory Therapy for PTSD different from other treatments?

Positive Memory Therapy for PTSD is unique because it focuses on processing positive memories to help individuals cope with trauma, unlike traditional therapies that often focus on revisiting traumatic events. This approach may offer a novel way to improve emotional well-being by reinforcing positive experiences. ^{8 9 10 11 12}

Research Team

Ateka Contractor, PHD

Principal Investigator

University of North Texas Health Science Center

Eligibility Criteria

This trial is for adults aged 18-65 with a recent PTSD diagnosis who speak English and can consent to participate. It's not suitable for those currently pregnant, in other mental health therapy, with active suicidal thoughts or psychosis, or recent changes in psychiatric meds.

Inclusion Criteria

Working knowledge of English

I have been diagnosed with PTSD in the past month.

Willing/able to provide informed consent

Exclusion Criteria

You are pregnant right now.

I have been in mental health therapy within the last 3 months.

You are currently trying to harm yourself or have attempted to harm yourself recently.

Timeline

Screening

Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial

2-4 weeks

Treatment

Participants receive 5 sessions of either Processing of Positive Memories Technique (PPMT) or Supportive Counseling (SC), each lasting 60 minutes

5 weeks

5 visits (in-person)

Follow-up

Participants are monitored for PTSD symptom severity and stress system dysregulation, including salivary alpha amylase and cortisol levels

3 months

3 visits (in-person)

Treatment Details

Interventions

• Processing of Positive Memories Technique (PPMT)
• Supportive Counseling (SC)

Trial Overview The study tests a new technique called PPMT that focuses on positive memories to help with PTSD symptoms against Supportive Counseling (SC). Participants will be randomly assigned to one of these two treatments to see which is more effective at reducing PTSD severity and stress markers.

Participant Groups

Group I: Processing of Positive Memories Technique (PPMT) Active Control 1 Intervention

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 II: Supportive Counseling (SC) Active Control 1 Intervention

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.

Who Is Running the Clinical Trial?

University of North Texas, Denton, TX

Lead Sponsor

Trials

13

Recruited

7,100+

Findings from Research

The study introduces the Processing of Positive Memories Technique (PPMT), a new therapy protocol designed to help trauma-exposed individuals by focusing on positive memories, which are often overlooked in PTSD treatment.

PPMT is based on a solid theoretical foundation and integrates strategies from cognitive psychology, aiming to address PTSD symptoms more effectively by enhancing positive memory processes, thus bridging the gap between research and clinical practice.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Processing of Positive Memories Technique (PPMT) for Posttraumatic Stress Disorder: A Primer. Contractor, AA., Weiss, NH., Shea, MT.[2022]

In a pilot study with 12 participants, the Processing of Positive Memories Technique (PPMT) showed promising effects on reducing PTSD severity, with 9 out of 12 participants demonstrating reliable improvements.

PPMT also positively impacted depression and negative affect levels, suggesting it may be a valuable addition to existing PTSD treatments, particularly in enhancing emotional regulation and cognitive processing.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Open Label Pilot Study on Posttrauma Health Impacts of the Processing of Positive Memories Technique (PPMT). Contractor, AA., Jin, L., Weiss, NH.[2023]

A new technique called Processing of Positive Memories Technique (PPMT) was piloted with 12 trauma-exposed individuals, showing promise in enhancing the retrieval of both traumatic and positive memories, which may improve overall well-being.

Feedback from participants indicated that PPMT is feasible and suggests potential benefits in clinical practice, highlighting the need for further refinement to enhance its effectiveness and scalability.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Processing of Positive Memories Technique: Feedback From Trauma-Exposed Clients on Processing of Positive Memories Technique Components, Format, and Feasibility. Banducci, AN., Fondren, A., Bocanegra, A., et al.[2023]

Present-centered therapy (PCT) is more effective than control conditions in reducing PTSD severity, with moderate-quality evidence from 12 studies involving 1837 participants.

While PCT showed lower dropout rates compared to trauma-focused cognitive-behavioral therapy (TF-CBT), it did not demonstrate non-inferiority to TF-CBT in alleviating PTSD symptoms, suggesting that while PCT is beneficial, TF-CBT may still be more effective overall.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Present-centered therapy (PCT) for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in adults. Belsher, BE., Beech, E., Evatt, D., et al.[2022]

Out of 13 reviewed PTSD intervention manuals, only about 54% explicitly addressed positive memories, while around 69% discussed positive emotions and cognitions, indicating a limited focus on positive internal experiences in most therapies.

Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) was found to have the most comprehensive approach to incorporating positive internal experiences, suggesting it may be particularly effective in addressing the emotional deficits associated with PTSD.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Positive Internal Experiences in PTSD Interventions: A Critical Review. Contractor, AA., Weiss, NH., Forkus, SR., et al.[2023]

A study involving 183 participants (60 from a community mental health center and 123 from Amazon's Mechanical Turk) found that individuals with PTSD are open to discussing positive memories in therapy, which could enhance their treatment experience.

Participants reported that focusing on positive memories could improve mood, self-esteem, and overall satisfaction with PTSD treatment, suggesting that integrating this approach could be beneficial in existing therapeutic practices.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

An Exploratory Examination of Client Perspectives on a Positive Memory Technique for PTSD. Caldas, SV., Jin, L., Dolan, M., et al.[2021]

In a pilot study with 16 trauma-exposed participants, the Processing of Positive Memories Technique (PPMT) was associated with a significant decrease in PTSD severity over five sessions, indicating its potential efficacy as a treatment for PTSD.

While positive affect levels did not directly influence the overall reduction in PTSD symptoms, higher levels of positive affect were linked to greater decreases in the arousal and reactivity symptom cluster, suggesting that targeting positive emotions may enhance treatment outcomes.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Positive Affect Processes and Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Symptoms: Findings from an Open Label and Uncontrolled Pilot Study using the Positive Memory Processing Technique. Contractor, AA., Slavish, DC., Thornton, J., et al.[2023]

Liposomal formulations of salmon calcitonin (sCT) were developed for inhalation, but they did not enhance the drug's bioavailability when delivered through the lungs due to low peptide release and enzymatic degradation in the airspace.

However, these liposomal formulations showed improved pharmacokinetics and higher bioavailability when administered intravenously compared to sCT solution, indicating potential benefits for non-pulmonary routes.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Encapsulation into PEG-liposomes does not improve the bioavailability of pulmonary delivered salmon calcitonin. Swaminathan, J., Gobbo, OL., Tewes, F., et al.[2018]

The study found that the bioavailability of oral salmon calcitonin (sCT) varies significantly depending on the time of day it is taken, with the morning dose showing the least variability (22%) compared to the evening dose (34%).

Higher levels of sCT exposure were strongly correlated with reduced levels of the bone resorption marker CTX-I, indicating that effective suppression of bone resorption can be achieved with optimal dosing conditions, despite the variability in individual responses.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Investigations of inter- and intraindividual relationships between exposure to oral salmon calcitonin and a surrogate marker of pharmacodynamic efficacy. Karsdal, MA., Byrjalsen, I., Henriksen, K., et al.[2021]

Oral salmon calcitonin (sCT) has been developed to improve bioavailability and is more convenient for patients compared to injectable or intranasal forms, but it shows only minor effects on bone mineral density and turnover markers despite being more effective than nasal sCT.

Recent clinical trials have not demonstrated anti-fracture efficacy for oral sCT, raising concerns about its overall effectiveness compared to other more efficacious osteoporosis treatments and potential safety issues, including a possible association with cancer.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Pharmacodynamics and pharmacokinetics of oral salmon calcitonin in the treatment of osteoporosis. Bandeira, L., Lewiecki, EM., Bilezikian, JP.[2017]

The study found that enteric-coated capsules containing salmon calcitonin (sCT) and citric acid (CA) in a 1:20 ratio significantly enhance the oral absorption of sCT, which is crucial due to its low bioavailability when taken orally.

Histopathological evaluations showed that this delivery system did not cause any damage to the intestinal mucosa in rats over a 7-day period, indicating its safety for potential long-term use.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Evaluation of salmon calcitonin (sCT) enteric-coated capsule for enhanced absorption and GI tolerability in rats. Wu, L., Zhang, G., Lu, Q., et al.[2019]

Salmon calcitonin (sCT) significantly reduces bone resorption, as indicated by a 50-60% decrease in plasma CTX levels within just 1 hour of administration, demonstrating its rapid efficacy.

Both intranasal and subcutaneous forms of sCT were effective in lowering CTX levels, with no significant difference in effectiveness between the two methods, indicating flexibility in administration routes.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Plasma type 1 collagen cross-linked C-telopeptide: a sensitive marker of acute effects of salmon calcitonin on bone resorption. Zikán, V., Stepan, JJ.[2019]

References

1. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Processing of Positive Memories Technique (PPMT) for Posttraumatic Stress Disorder: A Primer. [2022]

2. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Open Label Pilot Study on Posttrauma Health Impacts of the Processing of Positive Memories Technique (PPMT). [2023]

3. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Processing of Positive Memories Technique: Feedback From Trauma-Exposed Clients on Processing of Positive Memories Technique Components, Format, and Feasibility. [2023]

4. England pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Present-centered therapy (PCT) for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in adults. [2022]

5. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Positive Internal Experiences in PTSD Interventions: A Critical Review. [2023]

6. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

An Exploratory Examination of Client Perspectives on a Positive Memory Technique for PTSD. [2021]

7. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Positive Affect Processes and Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Symptoms: Findings from an Open Label and Uncontrolled Pilot Study using the Positive Memory Processing Technique. [2023]

8. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Encapsulation into PEG-liposomes does not improve the bioavailability of pulmonary delivered salmon calcitonin. [2018]

9. Germany pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Investigations of inter- and intraindividual relationships between exposure to oral salmon calcitonin and a surrogate marker of pharmacodynamic efficacy. [2021]

10. England pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Pharmacodynamics and pharmacokinetics of oral salmon calcitonin in the treatment of osteoporosis. [2017]

11. England pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Evaluation of salmon calcitonin (sCT) enteric-coated capsule for enhanced absorption and GI tolerability in rats. [2019]

12. Netherlands pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Plasma type 1 collagen cross-linked C-telopeptide: a sensitive marker of acute effects of salmon calcitonin on bone resorption. [2019]