title: Overgeneral autobiographical memory in patients with chronic pain.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Overgenerality and delay of the retrieval of autobiographical memory (AM) are well documented in a range of clinical conditions, particularly in patients with emotional disorder. The present study extended the investigation to chronic pain, attempting to identify whether the retrieval of AM in patients with chronic pain tends to be overgeneral or delayed.
  
  
  METHODS
  With an observational cross-sectional design, we evaluated the AM both in patients with chronic pain and healthy controls by Autobiographical Memory Test. Pain conditions were assessed using the pain diagnostic protocol, the short-form McGill Pain Questionnaire (SF-MPQ), and the Pain Self-Efficacy Questionnaire (PSEQ). Emotion was assessed using the Beck Depression Inventory-II (BDI-II) and the Beck Anxiety Inventory.
  
  
  METHODS
  Subjects included 176 outpatients with chronic pain lasting for at least 6 months and 170 healthy controls.
  
  
  RESULTS
  1) Compared with the healthy group, the chronic pain group had more overgeneral memories (OGMs) (F = 29.061, P < 0.01) and longer latency (F = 13.602, P < 0.01). 2) In the chronic pain group, the stepwise multiple regression models for variables predicting OGM were significant (P < 0.01). Specifically, the variance in OGM scores could be predicted by the BDI score (9.7%), pain chronicity (4.3%), PSEQ score (7.1%), and Affective Index (of SF-MPQ) score (2.7%). 3) In the chronic pain group, the stepwise multiple regression models for variables predicting latency were significant (P < 0.05). Specifically, the variance in latency could be predicted by age (3.1%), pain chronicity (2.7%), pain duration (4.3%), and PSEQ score (2.0%).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The retrieval of AM in patients with chronic pain tends to be overgeneral and delayed, and the retrieval style of AM may be contributed to negative emotions and chronic pain conditions.
authors: School of Education Science, Hunan Normal University, Changsha, China; Department of Educational Science, Hengyang Normal University, Hengyang, China.
authors: Xianhua
authors: X
authors: Liu
authors: Yanling
authors: Y
authors: Liu
authors: Li
authors: L
authors: Li
authors: Yiqiu
authors: Y
authors: Hu
authors: Siwei
authors: S
authors: Wu
authors: Shuqiao
authors: S
authors: Yao
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D059350:Chronic Pain; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004644:Emotions / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D061212:Memory, Episodic; D011939:Mental Recall / Q000502:physiology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D010147:Pain Measurement; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Autobiographical Memory; Chronic Pain; Delay; Overgenerality