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Comparing the Efficacy of Competitive Memory Training (COMET) and MEmory Specificity Training (MEST) on Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Among Newly Diagnosed Cancer Patients

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Abstract

Background

Cancer has been considered a potentially traumatic experience and is a distinct pathway by which one might develop symptoms of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). This study compared the efficacy of COmpetitive MEmory Training (COMET), an intervention aimed at altering dysfunctional self-representations, and MEmory Specificity Training (MEST), an intervention targeting autobiographical memory deficits, on PTSD and depression symptoms. As a secondary aim, we also investigated the effect of COMET and MEST on trauma-related attentional biases.

Methods

Sixty newly diagnosed cancer patients with PTSD were randomly assigned to either the COMET (n = 30) or MEST groups (n = 30). Each participant completed the Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Checklist-5, Beck Depression Inventory-II and a dot-probe task. The groups then underwent either COMET or MEST. All the assessments were re-conducted after the treatment (post-treatment) and at three months post-treatment (follow-up).

Results

The COMET group had significantly fewer PTSD and depression symptoms compared to the MEST group at post-training and follow-up. Both groups indicated a significant reduction in attentional biases following training.

Conclusions

This study suggests that COMET is a promising brief intervention for the treatment of PTSD in cancer patients.

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Notes

  1. The data file is available by contacting the corresponding author.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute for Cognitive and Brain Sciences, Shahid Beheshti University, Tehran, Iran

    Sharareh Farahimanesh

  2. Institute for Cognitive Science Studies, Tehran, Iran

    Sharareh Farahimanesh & Meysam Sadeghi

  3. Department of Psychology, Kharazmi University, Institute for Cognitive Science Studies, 43 South Mofatteh Avenue, Tehran, Iran

    Alireza Moradi

  4. Turner Institute for Brain and Mental Health, Monash University, Melbourne, VIC, Australia

    Laura Jobson

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  1. Sharareh Farahimanesh
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Correspondence to Alireza Moradi.

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Sharareh Farahimanesh, Alireza Moradi, Meysam Sadeghi, and Laura Jobson declare there are no conflict of interests.

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Farahimanesh, S., Moradi, A., Sadeghi, M. et al. Comparing the Efficacy of Competitive Memory Training (COMET) and MEmory Specificity Training (MEST) on Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Among Newly Diagnosed Cancer Patients. Cogn Ther Res 45, 918–928 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10608-020-10175-4

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