Field perspective deficit for positive memories characterizes autobiographical memory in euthymic depressed patients.
Research on autobiographical memory (AM) and the ability to retrieve specific autobiographical events in euthymic depressed patients yielded divergent results. The main goal of the present study was to further explore episodic specificity of AM among fully remitted depressed patients. Twenty euthymic depressed patients and 20 matched healthy controls were given a semi-structured interview, which assesses episodic specificity of positive and negative autobiographical memories regarding event and details' specificity, autonoetic consciousness (remember/know procedure) and visual perspective (field/observer procedure). Results showed an impairment of episodic specificity of AM in euthymic depressed patients. This impairment was explained by a field perspective deficit for positive memories only. These results suggest that euthymic patients continue to exhibit discrepancy between their current self and their self for positive past behaviors, which maintains an unfavorable view of their current self. Specific cognitive interventions may improve the self-relevance of their positive memories.
Bergouignan
Loretxu
L
CNRS UMR 7593, IFR Neurosciences, Pavillon Clérambault, Groupe Hospitalier Pitié-Salpêtrière, Paris 75013, France. loretxu@alternatiba.org
Lemogne
Cédric
C
Foucher
Aurélie
A
Longin
Estelle
E
Vistoli
Damien
D
Allilaire
Jean-François
JF
Fossati
Philippe
P
D000328:Adult; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000523:psychology*; D039721:Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008569:Memory Disorders / Q000209:etiology*; D011939:Mental Recall; D008875:Middle Aged; D012074:Remission Induction; D012649:Self Concept