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Related Concept Videos

Post-traumatic Stress Disorder01:27

Post-traumatic Stress Disorder

216
Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a psychiatric condition that arises following exposure to traumatic events such as natural disasters, forced displacement, or severe accidents. It significantly impairs individuals' ability to cope with daily activities and disrupts their emotional and psychological equilibrium.
Symptoms and Behavioral Manifestations
A spectrum of distressing symptoms characterizes PTSD. Recurrent flashbacks, where individuals involuntarily relive traumatic events,...
216
Traumatic Memory01:20

Traumatic Memory

342
Emotionally traumatic events often lead to memories that are exceptionally vivid and enduring, sometimes persisting with remarkable clarity throughout an individual's life. A classic example of this phenomenon is a person who survives a car accident. Even years later, they may recall every detail of the event with startling accuracy — the screeching of the tires, the jarring impact, and the acrid smell of burning rubber. Such vividness contrasts sharply with how an individual...
342
False Memories01:18

False Memories

204
False memories represent a cognitive distortion in which individuals recall events that did not happen, or remember them in an altered form. This phenomenon highlights the brain's constructive nature in processing and recalling memories, emphasizing that memory is not a perfect representation of past events but rather a dynamic reconstruction influenced by various factors.
One primary source of false memories is misattribution, where individuals incorrectly associate external information...
204
Dissociative Identity Disorder01:30

Dissociative Identity Disorder

292
Dissociative Identity Disorder (DID), previously termed multiple personality disorder, is a complex psychological condition characterized by the presence of two or more distinct identities or personality states. Each identity exhibits unique patterns of behavior, voice, and mannerisms and may possess separate memories and emotional responses. The alternating control between identities can result in memory gaps and challenges in recalling daily activities, often exacerbating the individual's...
292
Psychological Responses to Stress01:20

Psychological Responses to Stress

302
Psychological responses to stress encompass the various cognitive and emotional reactions individuals experience when faced with challenging or threatening situations, such as a job loss. Prolonged exposure to stressors can disturb emotional balance, increasing negative emotions (e.g., anxiety and sadness) and diminishing positive emotions (e.g., joy and satisfaction). These persistent emotional shifts are associated with an increased risk of both physical illness and mental health issues, such...
302
Repressed Memory01:16

Repressed Memory

239
Repressed memories are a psychological phenomenon where memories of traumatic events are unconsciously blocked from a person's awareness. This process occurs as a defense mechanism, protecting the mind from the emotional impact of distressing or painful experiences. For example, a person who has experienced childhood trauma may grow up with no conscious recollection of the event. In such cases, the memories are thought to be buried deep within the subconscious, inaccessible to the conscious...
239

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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Nov 8, 2025

Developing Neuroimaging Phenotypes of the Default Mode Network in PTSD: Integrating the Resting State, Working Memory, and Structural Connectivity
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Critical considerations for the positive memory-posttraumatic stress disorder model.

Ateka A Contractor1, Anne N Banducci2,3, Nicole H Weiss4

  • 1Department of Psychology, University of North Texas, Denton, TX, USA.

Clinical Psychology & Psychotherapy
|April 19, 2021
PubMed
Summary

This review refines the Positive Memory-PTSD model, emphasizing specific positive memories and individual differences in emotional responses. It suggests trauma type and co-occurring conditions may influence positive memory processing in posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

Keywords:
affective processescognitive processespositive memoriesposttraumatic stress disordertrauma

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Area of Science:

  • Psychology
  • Neuroscience
  • Clinical Psychiatry

Background:

  • Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) research often overlooks positive memory processing.
  • Previous work suggested benefits of positive memory retrieval for PTSD symptoms.
  • The Positive Memory-PTSD model requires further refinement for clinical application.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To critically review and enhance the Positive Memory-PTSD model.
  • To integrate recent research and clinical observations into the model.
  • To guide future research and interventions for PTSD.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review of emerging research and clinical observations.
  • Conceptual analysis and model refinement.
  • Identification of moderating factors in positive memory processing.

Main Results:

  • Clarification that the model applies to specific versus overgeneral positive memories.
  • Emphasis on the heterogeneity and dynamic nature of emotional responses to positive memories.
  • Identification of trauma characteristics and comorbidities as potential moderators.

Conclusions:

  • An updated Positive Memory-PTSD model is proposed.
  • The model highlights the importance of nuanced understanding of positive memory processing in PTSD.
  • Implications for developing targeted positive memory interventions are discussed.