Autobiographical Memory in Depression—A Case Study

Abstract

Introduction: Autobiographic memory allows shaping self identity over the time. Its main function is storing of information about oneself, which allows consolidating one’s own identity and provides the sense of stability. Its disfunction might be organic or functional in origin and may often be a manifestation of a serious disease. Aim: The purpose of the study was to compare cognitive functioning in the scope of autobiographical memory between a female patient with diagnosed dissociative amnesia and five female patients with diagnosed recurrent depressive disorders. Method: The following tools were used in the study: episodic memory test and MMPI-2 questionnaire (Gough Dissimulation Index). Results: The general results achieved by patient diagnosed with dissociative amnesia in the individual tasks used to examine autobiographical memory are comparable with the results achieved by the patients with diagnosed depression. However, the results suggest the presence of qualitative differences related to the type of remembered information and location of the events on the life line.