Positive memory intervention techniques: a scoping review

Miguel-Álvaro, Alejandro; Guillén, Ana Isabel; Contractor, Ateka A.; Crespo, María

doi:10.1080/09658211.2021.1937655

Cited by 21 publications

(16 citation statements)

References 62 publications

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“…There is great interest in this topic across a range of subfields, with investigations of whether post-trauma mental-health indicators are tied to the accessibility of specific positive memories (Contractor et al, 2019) and whether positive-memory retrieval manipulations can benefit those with PTSD (Contractor et al, 2018(Contractor et al, , 2022. A recent systematic review of interventions conducted over the last twenty years (Miguel-Alvaro et al, 2021) described 12 intervention types, across 3 categories: techniques to increase access to and focus on positive memories; techniques to change qualities or features of positive memories; and techniques to improve self-esteem or emotion regulation. Specific methods employed included writing down positive autobiographical memories, describing the feelings and thoughts associated with a particular positive memory, and manipulating the vividness of recalled positive memories through narration to a therapist.…”

Section: The Power Of Positive Memories For Ourselves and For Our Futurementioning

confidence: 99%

The power of negative and positive episodic memories

Williams

Ford

Kensinger

2022

Cogn Affect Behav Neurosci

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The power of episodic memories is that they bring a past moment into the present, providing opportunities for us to recall details of the experiences, reframe or update the memory, and use the retrieved information to guide our decisions. In these regards, negative and positive memories can be especially powerful: Life’s highs and lows are disproportionately represented in memory, and when they are retrieved, they often impact our current mood and thoughts and influence various forms of behavior. Research rooted in neuroscience and cognitive psychology has historically focused on memory for negative emotional content. Yet the study of autobiographical memories has highlighted the importance of positive emotional memories, and more recently, cognitive neuroscience methods have begun to clarify why positive memories may show powerful relations to mental wellbeing. Here, we review the models that have been proposed to explain why emotional memories are long-lasting (durable) and likely to be retrieved (accessible), describing how in overlapping—but distinctly separable—ways, positive and negative memories can be easier to retrieve, and more likely to influence behavior. We end by identifying potential implications of this literature for broader topics related to mental wellbeing, education, and workplace environments.

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Section: The Power Of Positive Memories For Ourselves and For Our Futurementioning

confidence: 99%

The power of negative and positive episodic memories

Williams

Ford

Kensinger

2022

Cogn Affect Behav Neurosci

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“…In addition, it presents the value of starting from a novel approach in which traditional models and treatments focused on trauma are complemented with interventions focused on positive memories. In this way, the results of this project can become a fundamental point of reference to determine the potential and real scope of this new proposal, which, although it has gained relevance in recent years [ 39 ], is still in an initial phase. In short, this study introduces a broader view of trauma and its consequences and searches to enhance women’s recovery.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…In its design, it was taken into account that, since the module would be integrated into the CBT, it would have to be brief, with a development between 1–3 sessions, in order not to prolong the program (something that could go in detriment of adherence). After a detailed review of positive memory intervention techniques [ 39 ], the broad-minded affective coping (BMAC) intervention proposed by Tarrier [ 40 ] was taken as a reference. This intervention focuses on experiencing positive memories through mental imagery exercises and on experiencing the positive emotions associated with these memories.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Effect of adding a positive memories’ module in a trauma-focused cognitive-behavioural treatment for female survivors of intimate partner violence: trial protocol

Crespo

Miguel-Álvaro

Hornillos

et al. 2022

Trials

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Background Trauma-focused cognitive-behavioural treatments have been proven to be effective for reducing symptoms in female survivors of intimate partner violence (IPV), although they still present some difficulties (e.g. significant drop-out rates, low adherence). Based on existing evidence about the difficulty of accessing memories of positive experiences among these women, we considered integrating positive memory evocation in trauma-focused treatments. The present study aims to test the effect of adding a positive memory module to trauma-focused CBT for female survivors of IPV. Methods The study is a single-blind, randomized controlled trial (RCT) comparing two trauma-focused CBT (with and without a positive memory module) for female survivors of IPV and a wait-list condition (superiority trial), including pretreatment and posttreatment measures, and follow-ups at 3, 6 and 12 months. Assessors of treatment outcome will be blinded to the trial arm. We aim to recruit 135 participants who will be randomized to one of the experimental conditions. The primary outcome is PTSD symptom severity. Secondary outcome measures include IPV, attitudes towards IPV, posttraumatic cognitions, centrality of trauma, self-concept, positive and negative affect, depression, anxiety, emotional dysregulation or health-related quality of life, as well as satisfaction with treatment. Moreover, adherence to and satisfaction with treatment will be considered. Discussion This study first analyses the effect of including positive memory evocation into a trauma-focused treatment for female survivors of IPV. This strategy aims to improve the effect of the treatments and enhance the healing of the trauma by developing a more integrated and emotionally modulated autobiographical narrative that contributes to the recovery and well-being of the victims. Trial registration ISRCTN73702156. Registered on 10 March 2022.

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“…It is of interest to know the role played in this sense by the ability to adequately regulate positive emotions since, as pointed out by works such as those of Contractor, Weiss, and Forkus (2021), when people have problems in the acceptance of these emotions or in guiding their behavior by them, there is a greater relationship between positive memories and posttraumatic symptoms. Thus, these results point to the probable benefit of adding work with positive memories to the psychotherapeutic approach to trauma (Contractor, Banducci, & Weiss, 2022), especially since one of the main impacts of techniques focused on positive memories is the increase in the subject’s ability to access positive emotions and to properly regulate them (Miguel-Alvaro et al, 2021).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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

Miguel-Álvaro¹,

Fernández-Lansac²,

Crespo³

2022

Psychological Trauma: Theory, Research, Practice, and Policy

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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. Clinical Impact StatementThe results have clinical implications since they point out that adding work with positive memories to trauma-focused interventions could have beneficial effects for women who suffer with intimate partner violence (Contractor et al., 2018). Specifically, working with positive memories would allow for increasing the availability of positive emotions and working on the adequate regulation of this type of emotion. In addition, they can enable women victims of intimate partner violence to increase the availability of memories in which they feel a sense of achievement, increasing their self-esteem.

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Positive memory intervention techniques: a scoping review

Cited by 21 publications

References 62 publications

The power of negative and positive episodic memories

The power of negative and positive episodic memories

Effect of adding a positive memories’ module in a trauma-focused cognitive-behavioural treatment for female survivors of intimate partner violence: trial protocol

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

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