Autobiographical Memory in Detoxified Dependent Drinkers

Abstract

In experimental studies, many clinical populations, e.g. depression and trauma, show a relative difficulty to produce specific autobiographical memories when compared to non-clinical participants (e.g. Williams et al ., 2007). ‘Specific’ memories are defined as a single event lasting <1 day. Clinically, this reduced autobiographical memory specificity is associated with poorer psychological functioning, problem solving limitations, greater hopelessness (Henderson et al ., 2002) and poorer outcome. Such aspects have potential relevance in relation to alcohol problems, specifically cognitively based theories of and interventions for alcohol problems. We are not aware of published research examining autobiographical memory function within this population. In our study, 26, in treatment, detoxified dependent drinkers were recruited along with 29 non-dependent drinkers recruited from community sources. The median time since last consuming an alcoholic drink for the dependent drinkers was 16 days, range 1–365 days. The mean Severity of Alcohol Dependence Questionnaire …