Refining processing of positive memories technique: client perspectives on components, format, and feasibility

Background: The Processing of Positive Memories Technique (PPMT) is a novel intervention designed to reduce posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms by enhancing the retrieval and processing of positive autobiographical memories (AM). While initial findings of pilot PPMT studies are promising, further refinement of PPMT is needed to optimize its effectiveness and applicability. Objective: To support this goal, the current study gathered feedback from treatment recipients on the components, format, and feasibility of PPMT with the aim to identify potential areas of modification. Method: Seventy-five trauma survivors (M_age = 30.45 years; 74.7% women) completing all five PPMT sessions provided quantitative and qualitative feedback on PPMT. Results: Quantitative data analyses indicated that most participants were satisfied with the PPMT protocol (e.g. positive AM definition, number of elicited positive AMs and PPMT sessions, time devoted to processing positive AMs, preference for individual sessions); and found PPMT to be feasible (e.g. acceptable, easy to learn, good treatment adherence, comprehension, and retention). Qualitative data further highlighted specific benefits, barriers, areas of modification, and implementation preferences for PPMT. Suggestions to refine PPMT included reducing the frequency of listening to the positive AM audio-recordings, clarifying the rationale of how PPMT addresses posttraumatic symptoms, integrating PPMT with trauma-focused interventions, focusing on positive AMs of events unrelated to the trauma and those occurring post-trauma, providing a rationale for and practice in using the present tense in narratives, incorporating emotion regulation skills, being more flexible in the number of sessions, and providing practice in recalling positive AMs. Conclusion: Overall, PPMT was perceived as a promising therapeutic intervention for trauma survivors, with good feasibility indicators. Trial registration:ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT06680193.