Allison Harvey, a psychology professor at UC Berkeley, recently completed an 11-week course on parenting techniques. Despite her diligent efforts, she found herself forgetting much of what she had learned. This experience highlighted the limitations of evidence-based psychological treatments due to human memory flaws and difficulties in forming new habits.
Harvey’s research, published in Behaviour Research and Therapy, suggests that subtle changes in treatment could improve patient outcomes. She emphasizes the gap between clinical discussions and patient retention of information. “I don’t think us humans realize how fallible our memories are,” Harvey said. Studies indicate patients remember only about 30% of session information.
The challenge extends beyond memory to include habit formation, which can take weeks or months to establish. Without explicit guidance on making new skills habitual, patients may struggle post-treatment. “We’ve got a mental health crisis,” Harvey noted. “But those treatments need to be improved to get people much better.”
Harvey’s ongoing sleep research, funded by the National Institutes of Health, examines how memory and habit change can enhance sleep quality through strategies like text message reminders. Early results show promise for scaling such interventions into broader health settings.
“We can come up with augmentations that could be applied before a session…that are not costly,” Harvey explained. Her work underscores the importance of integrating findings from various scientific fields to enhance treatment efficacy.
Reflecting on her parenting class experience, Harvey acknowledged valuable lessons were learned but many did not become ingrained habits. “Despite all that studiousness… I’m struggling to recall,” she admitted.
