Autobiographical memory in adult offspring of traumatized parents with and without posttraumatic stress symptoms.
The present study examined potential transgenerational effects of trauma on autobiographical memory in adult offspring of elderly participants with and without PTSD symptoms who were exposed to an early trauma during childhood. As traumatization is associated with reduced memory specificity for past events, we hypothesized that offspring of traumatized parents might be exposed to a less elaborative narrative style, which, in turn, might result in less specific autobiographical memories in the offspring. Results show that autobiographical memory specificity did not differ significantly between adult offspring of traumatized elderly participants with PTSD symptoms, without PTSD symptoms, and non-traumatized elderly participants.
University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Martinistr. 52, D-20246 Hamburg, Germany. Electronic address: c.wittekind@uke.de.
Charlotte E
CE
Wittekind
University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Martinistr. 52, D-20246 Hamburg, Germany.
Lena
L
Jelinek
University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Martinistr. 52, D-20246 Hamburg, Germany.
Steffen
S
Moritz
Department of Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf and Schoen Klinik Hamburg-Eilbek, Martinistr. 52, D-20246 Hamburg, Germany.
Christoph
C
Muhtz
University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Martinistr. 52, D-20246 Hamburg, Germany.
Fabrice
F
Berna
D000328:Adult; D032721:Adult Children / Q000523:psychology*; D000368:Aged; D016241:Child of Impaired Parents / Q000523:psychology*; D003863:Depression / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016901:Intergenerational Relations; D008297:Male; D061212:Memory, Episodic; D008875:Middle Aged; D033262:Narration; D010290:Parents / Q000523:psychology; D000067073:Psychological Trauma; D012044:Regression Analysis; D013313:Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic
Autobiographical memory; PTSD; Transgenerational