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Mindfulness-based cognitive therapy reduces overgeneral autobiographical memory in formerly depressed patients
J M Williams1, J D Teasdale, Z V Segal
1Institute of Medical and Social Care Research, University of Wales, Bangor, United Kingdom. j.m.g.williams@bangor.ac.uk
Journal of Abnormal Psychology
|March 31, 2000
Summary
Psychological treatment can improve autobiographical memory in recovered depressed patients, reducing generic memory recall. This suggests that memory recall styles are modifiable with targeted interventions.
Area of Science:
- Cognitive Psychology
- Clinical Psychology
- Neuroscience
Background:
- Depressed and suicidal patients, as well as those with posttraumatic stress disorder, exhibit overgeneral autobiographical memory.
- This memory overgeneralization involves recalling generic summaries instead of specific past events.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the impact of psychological treatment on autobiographical memory specificity.
- To determine if therapeutic interventions can alter the tendency for overgeneral memory recall in recovered depressed individuals.
Main Methods:
- Recovered depressed patients were randomly assigned to receive either treatment as usual or a relapse-prevention intervention.
- Autobiographical memory specificity was assessed by measuring the number of generic memories recalled in response to cue words.
Main Results:
- The group receiving the targeted psychological treatment showed a significant reduction in generic memory recall.
- Control patients (treatment as usual) did not exhibit significant changes in memory specificity.
Conclusions:
- Psychological treatment can effectively modify autobiographical memory recall, increasing specificity.
- The findings indicate that while memory overgeneralization may stem from long-standing tendencies, it is amenable to therapeutic modification.