Depression and autobiographical memory: which are the characteristics of depressed patients' self-defining memories?

BACKGROUND. Depressed patients suffer from autobiographical memory deficits. Indeed, depressed patients present an overgeneralization and a mood congruence biases. Moreover, they seem to have difficulties to recall positive memories. Our aim is to focus on a specific kind of memories called “self-defining memories” (SDM) which are highly pertinent for self-building. Their characteristics (e.g. specificity, meaning making) were assessed and compared to those of healthy subjects.
HYPOTHESES. Depressed patients relate less specific and meaning making events than control group. A mood congruence bias is observed.
METHOD. 17 depressed patients and 18 healthy subjects fulfilled SDM exercises: subjects were asked to relate six important events that happened in their life. These SDM were assessed on several variables: specificity, impact, meaning making, contain. Moreover, subjects were assessed on depression severity and self-esteem (explicit and implicit).
RESULTS. No difference between depressed patients and healthy subjects has been found for specificity. A marginal effect appeared for meaning making: control group seemed to relate more meaning making events than depressed patients. Depressed patients related more negative events than control group: this negative emotional valence was positively correlated with higher depression severity. Depressed subjects presented a lower explicit self-esteem than healthy subjects but no difference has been found for implicit self-esteem. Higher explicit self-esteem was positively correlated with positive emotional valence of SDM.
DISCUSSION. Results partially support our hypotheses. Experimental and clinical implications of our results will be discussed.