Do the Characteristics of Autobiographical Memories Vary Across the Alcohol Use Disorder Continuum? A Comparison...

Disturbances in autobiographical memory have been reported in individuals with alcohol use disorder (AUD) but have not been examined in terms of differing severities of AUD.

Fifty-six individuals with severe AUD, 39 individuals with mild AUD, and 56 controls performed an autobiographical memory task that involved recalling two important autobiographical memories over four life periods. Autobiographical memories were coded for specificity, emotional valence, theme, and meaning making.

Individuals with severe AUD recalled more general, more neutral, fewer positive, fewer achievement-related, and more alcohol-related autobiographical memories than individuals with mild AUD and controls and fewer meaning-making autobiographical memories than controls. Individuals with mild AUD retrieved more party-related autobiographical memories than people with severe AUD and controls.

Using a new recall procedure, our findings suggest that autobiographical memory impairments appear in the most severe form of AUD, but not in the mild form. These specific autobiographical memory disturbances cannot be explained solely by the AUD symptoms.