Daily-level associations between posttraumatic stress disorder symptoms and reactions to retrieving positive autobiographical memories.

Trauma survivors with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) report difficulties accessing and describing positive memories. To understand these patterns, we examined daily-level relations of PTSD symptoms with affective, cognitive (dwelling/rumination; pushing memory out of one's mind; suppression; avoidance; distraction; thinking about something else; remembering negative or positive memories/events; negative or positive thoughts; accepting or disapproving memory; reinterpreting memory), and behavioral (using alcohol/drugs; smoking cigarettes; cravings for or seeking out cigarettes/alcohol/drugs; craving, seeking out, or consuming large amounts of food; dissociation; engaging in risky behaviors; sharing memories; interference with ongoing task; arousal) reactions to retrieving positive memories. Eighty-eight trauma survivors (Mage= 39.89 years; 59.1% female) completed 7 daily measures of PTSD and reactions to retrieving positive memories. Days with more PTSD severity were associated with higher odds of same-day suppression, avoidance, distraction, thinking about something else, smoking cigarettes, craving substances, craving, seeking out, or consuming large amounts of food, dissociation, remembering negative memories/events/thoughts, engaging in risky behaviors, interference with ongoing tasks, and arousal (ORs=1.10-1.22); and greater negative affect (ß = 0.27). Supplemental lagged analyses indicated some associations between previous-day reactions to positive memory retrieval and next-day PTSD severity and vice versa. Trauma survivors with PTSD symptoms report negative and avoidance-oriented reactions to retrieving positive memories.

Quality of memories in battered women: Analysis of positive narratives.

OBJECTIVES: In recent years, the evidence regarding the characteristics of positive autobiographical memories in the field of posttraumatic stress disorder has gained increasing interest. The objective of this study was to add to the evidence in this area by analyzing the characteristics of positive memories in a specific trauma population, namely victims of intimate partner violence. METHOD: The study compared the narratives of highly positive events of 50 battered women (trauma-exposed group) with those of 50 nonexposed women (controls). RESULTS: The results show that, compared with the narratives of the control group, the narratives of the trauma-exposed group contained fewer references to positive emotions and achievement and more words related to the first person and mistreatment. CONCLUSIONS: The results support the hypothesis that the consequences of trauma can impact the characteristics of positive autobiographical memories. The resulting clinical implications point toward the possible relevance of adding work with positive memories to the clinical approach to trauma. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2022 APA, all rights reserved).

Positive memory intervention techniques: a scoping review.

The scoping review examines and summarises the available knowledge base on intervention techniques focused on positive memories. An iterative series of PsycInfo and Medline searches was conducted up to April 2021 following PRISMA-ScR guidelines. Thirty-nine studies, spanning 12 intervention techniques, were selected and described including: (1) theoretical basis; (2) type of study, sample, and measures; (3) intervention protocol; and (4) results of empirical studies if applicable. Results indicated that most techniques have only been tested in one-two studies with modest sample sizes and, when follow-ups are conducted, they are typically short. Results indicate that working with positive memories has the greatest impact on improving positive affect and reducing depressive symptoms, and that these effects are often temporary. This review serves as a quick reference guide to help professionals' access to descriptions and information on empirical evidence of positive memory techniques, improving their therapeutic arsenal to enhance well-being and therapeutic outcomes in their patients.

Reescritura de Imágenes para el Tratamiento del Estrés Postraumático: Análisis y Revisión / Imagery rescripting in the treatment of posttraumatic stress: Analysis and review

El trastorno por estrés postraumático (TEPT) cuenta con multitud de propuestas eficaces para su abordaje psicoterapéutico. Dentro de estas, una de las menos conocidas en nuestro entorno idiomático es la reescritura de imágenes (RI). El presente trabajo pretende caracterizar la RI y realizar una revisión sistemática acerca de su eficacia en el tratamiento del TEPT. La RI es una técnica joven destinada a cambiar aquellos recuerdos o representaciones mentales que son aversivos para los sujetos. La RI ha mostrado eficacia a la hora de abordar aquellas problemáticas relacionadas con los recuerdos aversivos ylas creencias encapsuladas. Respecto a la aplicación de la RI en el TEPT, los resultados del presente trabajo indican que es eficaz, pero en general no más que las técnicas de exposición. Se concluye que la RI es menos aversiva para los pacientes que las técnicas de exposición y que sus mecanismos de acción son aún desconocidos

Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) has many effective psychotherapeutic treatment alternatives. Within these, one of the less known in the Spanish language is the Imagery Rescripting (IR). The present study aims to characterize IR and conduct a systematic review on their efficacy in PTSD treatment. IR is a young technique intended to change memories or mental representations that are aversive to the patients. IR has shown efficacy in addressing those problems related to aversive memories and encapsulated beliefs. Regarding the implementation of the IR in PTSD, the results of this study indicate that it is effective but, in general, not more than exposure techniques. It is concluded that IR is less aversive to patients than exposure techniques and their mechanisms of action are still unknown