Guided memory retrieval shapes subsequent intrusive memories: A systematic manipulation of memory retrieval

While intrusive memories are common following a traumatic event, they taper off over time for the majority of individuals. For others, intrusions persist and become the cardinal symptom of posttraumatic stress disorder. Post-event memory retrieval may be a factor in the persistence of intrusive memories. Better processing of contextual details surrounding a traumatic event may limit the generalizability of intrusions, subsequently reducing their frequency and related distress. In a trauma film paradigm study, participants (N = 87) watched a 12 min clip of a fictional assault and were then randomly assigned to retrieve contextual details (i.e., details before and after the assault), general gist details (i.e., details about the assault itself), or film-independent details (control; i.e., film-independent details about study participation) via text message later the same day. Trauma film-related memory intrusions were prospectively assessed for a total of four days. While there was no main effect of condition on overall intrusion frequency, context and gist retrieval decreased intrusion distress and vividness over time (ds = 0.26 - 0.32) relative to the control, and resulted in lower overall self-reported intrusive memory severity at follow-up in the gist condition (d = 0.36). Notably, this study manipulated memory retrieval rather than encoding, arguing that systematic retrieval of the trauma film content potentially enhanced trace specificity. Among trauma survivors, altering memory encoding is often not logistically feasible, whereas early interventions that better target memory retrieval may help reduce the distress of intrusive memories and prevent chronic psychopathology.