title: Development and psychometric validation of the verbal affective memory test.
abstract: We here present the development and validation of the Verbal Affective Memory Test-24 (VAMT-24). First, we ensured face validity by selecting 24 words reliably perceived as positive, negative or neutral, respectively, according to healthy Danish adults' valence ratings of 210 common and non-taboo words. Second, we studied the test's psychometric properties in healthy adults. Finally, we investigated whether individuals diagnosed with Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) differed from healthy controls on seasonal changes in affective recall. Recall rates were internally consistent and reliable and converged satisfactorily with established non-affective verbal tests. Immediate recall (IMR) for positive words exceeded IMR for negative words in the healthy sample. Relatedly, individuals with SAD showed a significantly larger decrease in positive recall from summer to winter than healthy controls. Furthermore, larger seasonal decreases in positive recall significantly predicted larger increases in depressive symptoms. Retest reliability was satisfactory, rs ≥ .77. In conclusion, VAMT-24 is more thoroughly developed and validated than existing verbal affective memory tests and showed satisfactory psychometric properties. VAMT-24 seems especially sensitive to measuring positive verbal recall bias, perhaps due to the application of common, non-taboo words. Based on the psychometric and clinical results, we recommend VAMT-24 for international translations and studies of affective memory.
authors.affiliation: a Neurobiology Research Unit (NRU), The Neuroscience Centre, Rigshospitalet , Copenhagen , Denmark.|b Center for Integrated Molecular Brain Imaging (Cimbi), The Neuroscience Centre, Rigshospitalet , Copenhagen , Denmark.|c Department of Psychology , University of Copenhagen , Copenhagen , Denmark.
authors.forename: Christian G
authors.initials: CG
authors.lastname: Jensen
authors.affiliation: a Neurobiology Research Unit (NRU), The Neuroscience Centre, Rigshospitalet , Copenhagen , Denmark.|b Center for Integrated Molecular Brain Imaging (Cimbi), The Neuroscience Centre, Rigshospitalet , Copenhagen , Denmark.
authors.forename: Liv V
authors.initials: LV
authors.lastname: Hjordt
authors.affiliation: a Neurobiology Research Unit (NRU), The Neuroscience Centre, Rigshospitalet , Copenhagen , Denmark.|b Center for Integrated Molecular Brain Imaging (Cimbi), The Neuroscience Centre, Rigshospitalet , Copenhagen , Denmark.
authors.forename: Dea S
authors.initials: DS
authors.lastname: Stenbæk
authors.affiliation: a Neurobiology Research Unit (NRU), The Neuroscience Centre, Rigshospitalet , Copenhagen , Denmark.|b Center for Integrated Molecular Brain Imaging (Cimbi), The Neuroscience Centre, Rigshospitalet , Copenhagen , Denmark.
authors.forename: Emil
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Andersen
authors.affiliation: a Neurobiology Research Unit (NRU), The Neuroscience Centre, Rigshospitalet , Copenhagen , Denmark.|b Center for Integrated Molecular Brain Imaging (Cimbi), The Neuroscience Centre, Rigshospitalet , Copenhagen , Denmark.
authors.forename: Silja K
authors.initials: SK
authors.lastname: Back
authors.affiliation: a Neurobiology Research Unit (NRU), The Neuroscience Centre, Rigshospitalet , Copenhagen , Denmark.|b Center for Integrated Molecular Brain Imaging (Cimbi), The Neuroscience Centre, Rigshospitalet , Copenhagen , Denmark.
authors.forename: Jon
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Lansner
authors.affiliation: d Psychiatric Centre Copenhagen, Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen University Hospital , Copenhagen , Denmark.
authors.forename: Ida
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Hageman
authors.affiliation: d Psychiatric Centre Copenhagen, Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen University Hospital , Copenhagen , Denmark.
authors.forename: Henrik
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Dam
authors.affiliation: a Neurobiology Research Unit (NRU), The Neuroscience Centre, Rigshospitalet , Copenhagen , Denmark.|b Center for Integrated Molecular Brain Imaging (Cimbi), The Neuroscience Centre, Rigshospitalet , Copenhagen , Denmark.
authors.forename: Anna P
authors.initials: AP
authors.lastname: Nielsen
authors.affiliation: a Neurobiology Research Unit (NRU), The Neuroscience Centre, Rigshospitalet , Copenhagen , Denmark.|b Center for Integrated Molecular Brain Imaging (Cimbi), The Neuroscience Centre, Rigshospitalet , Copenhagen , Denmark.
authors.forename: Gitte M
authors.initials: GM
authors.lastname: Knudsen
authors.affiliation: a Neurobiology Research Unit (NRU), The Neuroscience Centre, Rigshospitalet , Copenhagen , Denmark.|b Center for Integrated Molecular Brain Imaging (Cimbi), The Neuroscience Centre, Rigshospitalet , Copenhagen , Denmark.
authors.forename: Vibe G
authors.initials: VG
authors.lastname: Frokjaer
authors.affiliation: a Neurobiology Research Unit (NRU), The Neuroscience Centre, Rigshospitalet , Copenhagen , Denmark.|b Center for Integrated Molecular Brain Imaging (Cimbi), The Neuroscience Centre, Rigshospitalet , Copenhagen , Denmark.
authors.forename: Steen G
authors.initials: SG
authors.lastname: Hasselbalch
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000339:Affect / Q000502:physiology*; D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011939:Mental Recall / Q000502:physiology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D010775:Photic Stimulation; D011594:Psychometrics; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D014706:Verbal Learning / Q000502:physiology*; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Memory bias; Seasonal Affective Disorder; affective cognition; depression; verbal learning