Enhancing effects on memory for psychotherapy in anxious people via metaphor encoding of solutions and motivated retrieval of problem contexts

Experiment 1 examined the role of metaphor on memory for therapy with “problem-solution” micro-counseling dialogues and Experiment 2 examined the role of retrieval intention of distress problems. The results revealed (1) anxious participants had lower correct recognition (CR) numbers and memory discrimination (d’) than healthy participants. Metaphorical solutions have higher CR numbers and d’ than literal solutions. (2) CR numbers and d’ of anxious participants with high retrieval intention (HRI) were higher than low retrieval intention (LRI). The d’ of metaphorical solutions of anxious participants with HRI was higher than their literal solutions and metaphorical solutions of anxious participants with LRI. These results demonstrate that better encoding of therapeutic metaphors of solutions and stronger retrieval motivation of distress problems can help anxious individuals achieve optimal memory for psychotherapy solutions.