title: The effects of autobiographical memory flexibility (MemFlex) training: An uncontrolled trial in individuals in remission from depression.
abstract: Impaired cognitive processing is a key feature of depression. Biases in autobiographical memory retrieval (in favour of negative and over-general memories) directly impact depression symptoms, but also influence downstream cognitive factors implicated in the onset and maintenance of the disorder. We introduce a novel cognitive intervention, MemFlex, which aims to correct these biases in memory retrieval and thereby modify key downstream cognitive risk and maintenance factors: rumination, impaired problem solving, and cognitive avoidance.
  
  
  
  Thirty eight adults with remitted Major Depressive Disorder completed MemFlex in an uncontrolled clinical trial. This involved an orientation session, followed by self-guided completion of six workbook-based sessions over one-month. Assessments of cognitive performance and depression symptoms were completed at pre- and post-intervention.
  
  
  
  Results demonstrated medium-sized effects of MemFlex in improving memory specificity and problem solving, and decreasing rumination, and a small effect in reducing cognitive avoidance. No significant change was observed in residual symptoms of depression.
  
  
  
  This study was an uncontrolled trial, and has provided initial evidence to support a larger-scale, randomized controlled trial.
  
  
  
  These findings provide promising evidence for MemFlex as a cost-effective, low-intensity option for reducing cognitive risk associated with depression.
authors.affiliation: Medical Research Council Cognition and Brain Sciences Unit, Cambridge, United Kingdom; The Cambridgeshire and Peterborough NHS Foundation Trust, Cambridge, United Kingdom. Electronic address: caitlin.hitchcock@mrc-cbu.cam.ac.uk.
authors.forename: Caitlin
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Hitchcock
authors.affiliation: Medical Research Council Cognition and Brain Sciences Unit, Cambridge, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Viola
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Mueller
authors.affiliation: Medical Research Council Cognition and Brain Sciences Unit, Cambridge, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Emily
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Hammond
authors.affiliation: Medical Research Council Cognition and Brain Sciences Unit, Cambridge, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Catrin
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Rees
authors.affiliation: Medical Research Council Cognition and Brain Sciences Unit, Cambridge, United Kingdom; The Cambridgeshire and Peterborough NHS Foundation Trust, Cambridge, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Aliza
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Werner-Seidler
authors.affiliation: Medical Research Council Cognition and Brain Sciences Unit, Cambridge, United Kingdom; The Cambridgeshire and Peterborough NHS Foundation Trust, Cambridge, United Kingdom. Electronic address: tim.dalgleish@mrc-cbu.cam.ac.uk.
authors.forename: Tim
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Dalgleish
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D015928:Cognitive Behavioral Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D003865:Major Depressive Disorder / Q000523:psychology* / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D061212:Memory, Episodic; D008875:Middle Aged; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D012075:Remission, Spontaneous; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014705:Verbal Behavior; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Autobiographical memory; Cognitive risk factors; Depression; Intervention; Memory flexibility