title: Autobiographical recall training in elderly adults with subjective memory complaint: a pilot study.
abstract: Subjective memory complaint is a self-reported memory impairment which affects elderly people. This problem does not interfere with daily living activities but could decrease quality of life. This study's purpose was to verify whether a specific, newly developed, autobiographical recall training could modify self-perception of memory of subjects with subjective memory complaint. Seven elderly subjects (4 women and 3 men; mean age 65.5 yr., SD=11) with such complaint, evidenced through a specific questionnaire, attended the training course and were prospectively assessed on standard neuropsychological tests, depressive symptomatology, and self-perception of memory. Self-perception of memory, as assessed by scores on a formalized questionnaire, improved significantly after the training, while depressive symptoms did not change. Neuropsychological performances were normal before and after the training, but a statistically significant improvement was observed only on the phonological fluency test. Thus the present pilot study suggested that the training may be effective in improving self-perception of memory and metamnestic capacity in elderly people with subjective memory complaints but not in changing subjects' depressive symptoms. This requires replication of this work with a much larger sample so statistical power is adequate.
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Psychology, Second University of Naples, Caserta, Italy. dario.grossi@unina2.it
authors.forename: Dario
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Grossi
authors.forename: Alfredo
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Postiglione
authors.forename: Bruno
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Schettini
authors.forename: Luigi
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Trojano
authors.forename: Anna Maria
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Barbarulo
authors.forename: Valentina
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Giugliano
authors.forename: Elisabetta
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Ambron
authors.forename: Assunta
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Aiello
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002908:Chronic Disease / Q000523:psychology; D015897:Comorbidity; D003863:Depression / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008016:Life Change Events; D008297:Male; D008569:Memory Disorders / Q000523:psychology / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D011939:Mental Recall; D008875:Middle Aged; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011214:Practice, Psychological; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011788:Quality of Life / Q000523:psychology; D012647:Self-Assessment; D016896:Treatment Outcome