Effects of structure and clustering on recall and recognition memory in clinical depression

The present study compared retrieval of high, medium, and low structured material, using word lists consisting of uncategorized words and categorized words presented in randomized and clustered order. Clinically depressed subjects were found to be significantly impaired relative to controls only on the medium level of structure and the randomized categories list when measured by free recall. There were no effects of group nor any interactions for recognition memory, although there was a main effect for group on d' when signal detection analysis was applied. The implications of the findings for models of memory deficits in depression are discussed.