Self-ratings of memory dysfunction: different findings in depression and amnesia

An 18-item self-rating test of memory functions was administered to two patient groups: seven patients with amnesia resulting from Korsakoff's syndrome and six other amnesic patients. These results were compared to results obtained previously for depressed psychiatric inpatients (n = 19) and depressed inpatients prescribed electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) (n = 35). The latter group was tested both before and 1 week after completion of the course of ECT. One pattern of memory self-ratings was reported by the two groups of depressed patients. These two groups reported an approximately equivalent level of impairment across all test items. A different pattern of memory self-ratings was reported by the two groups of amnesic patients and by the group tested after ECT. These patients reported considerably more impairment on some items than others, such that performance was not equivalent across test items. Finally, the patients with Korsakoff's syndrome underestimated their memory problems, reporting a less severe impairment than the other amnesic patients. The results show that the memory problems experienced in depression and in amnesia are distinguishable with self-assessment techniques. In addition, the similarity between memory self-ratings reported by patients after ECT and by amnesic patients supports the idea that memory complaints after ECT reflect primarily the experience of amnesia. Self-rating forms like the one described here may have useful application to many diagnostic groups where questions arise about the nature of reported memory problems.