A review of the peak-end rule in mental health contexts

Abstract

The peak-end rule, a memory heuristic in which the most emotionally salient part of an experience (i.e., peak) and conclusion of an experience (i.e., end) are weighted more heavily in summary evaluations, has been understudied in mental health contexts. The recent growth of intensive longitudinal methods has provided new opportunities for examining the peak-end rule in the retrospective recall of mental health symptoms, including measures often used in measurement-based care initiatives. Additionally, principles of the peak-end rule have significant potential to be applied to exposure-based therapy procedures. Additional research is needed to better understand the contexts in which, and persons for whom, the peak-end rule presents a greater risk of bias, to ultimately improve assessment strategies and clinical care.

Keywords: Anxiety; Depression; Ecological momentary assessment; Exposure; PTSD; Recall bias.