Exploration of use of SenseCam to support autobiographical memory retrieval within a cognitive-behavioural therapeutic intervention following acquired brain injury

Abstract

Delivering effective psychotherapy to address the significant emotional consequences of acquired brain injury (ABI) is challenged by the presence of acquired cognitive impairments, especially retrieval of detailed autobiographical memories of emotional trigger events. Initial studies using a wearable camera (SenseCam) suggest long-term improvements in autobiographical retrieval of recorded events. In this study a single-case experimental design was implemented to explore the use of SenseCam as a memory aid for a man with a specific anxiety disorder and memory and executive difficulties following ABI. We predicted that SenseCam supported rehearsal of memories of events that trigger high levels of anxiety would yield improved retrieval of both factual detail and internal state information (thoughts and feelings) compared with a conventional psychotherapy aid (automatic thought record sheets, ATRs) and no strategy. The findings indicated SenseCam supported retrieval of anxiety trigger events was superior to ATRs or no strategy in terms of both detail and internal state information, with 94% of the information being recalled in the SenseCam condition, compared to 39% for the “no strategy” and 22% for the ATR conditions. It is concluded that SenseCam may be of use as a compensatory aid in psychotherapies relying on retrieval of emotionally salient trigger events.

Keywords:

• Acquired brain injury
• Psychotherapy
• Memory
• Strategies
• Anxiety

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

We would like to acknowledge the financial and practical support of Microsoft Research (Cambridge, UK). In particular we are indebted to Emma Berry, Georgina Browne, and Steve Hodges for their time and advice. We would also like to acknowledge Phil Barnard for his time and discussion with us on an early draft of the paper.In addition, we would like to acknowledge the National Institute for Health Research “Collaborations for Leadership in Applied Health Research and Care” (CLAHRC) for Cambridgeshire and Peterborough for providing funding to support Fergus Gracey with the writing of this paper.