Autobiographical memory in major depression: a comparison between first-episode and recurrent patients.
Autobiographical memory in depression is characterized by an increase in general memory evocation. The aim of this study is to compare autobiographical memory in patients with a first depressive episode and in recurrent patients before and after recovery, using Williams' and Scott's autobiographical memory test. Our results show an increase of the number of general memories only with positive cue words in both groups of patients during the depressive episode. After clinical improvement, this specificity remains in recurrent patients who, in addition, recall more general memories for negative words. By contrast, patients with a first depressive episode are no longer different from controls. These results show both an overgeneralization and a deficit in positive memory access during the depressive episode, whatever the number of previous episodes. Moreover, recurrence chronically modifies access to emotional memories.
Nandrino
Jean-Louis
JL
Département de Psychologie, Université Lille 3, Lille, France. nandrino@univ-lille3.fr
Pezard
Laurent
L
Posté
Alexa
A
Réveillère
Christian
C
Beaune
Daniel
D
D000328:Adult; D000928:Antidepressive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002908:Chronic Disease; D003865:Major Depressive Disorder / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000523:psychology*; D004644:Emotions / Q000187:drug effects; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008016:Life Change Events; D008297:Male; D011939:Mental Recall / Q000187:drug effects; D008875:Middle Aged; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D010343:Patient Admission; D012008:Recurrence
D000928:Antidepressive Agents