Links Between Future Thinking and Autobiographical Memory Specificity in Major Depression

Ali Sarkohi,Jonas Bjärehed,Gerhard Andersson

doi:10.4236/psych.2011.23041

Abstract

The aim of this study was to examine the association between autobiographical memory specificity and future thinking in a depressed sample. A total of 88 individuals who meet the DSM-IV criteria of major depression were included and completed the autobiographical memory test (AMT) and the future thinking task (FTT). The FTT was an index of number of future plausible events, rating of likelihood and emotional valence. The results showed that positive future thinking was significantly correlated with retrieval of specific positive autobio-graphical memories (r = 0.23). Moreover, correlational analyses showed that positive autobiographical memo-ries were negatively correlated with extended autobiographical memories, repeated autobiographical memories, semantic associations and non-responses on the AMT. Self-report measures of depression and anxiety were not correlated with either the FTT or the AMT. The results of this cross-sectional study only give weak support for an association between autobiographical memory specificity and future thinking.

Highlights

Future thinking and autobiographical memory are known as important aspects of cognitive functioning (Schacter, Addis, & Buckner, 2007), which both influence and can be influenced by depression
The result showed that positive future thinking was significantly correlated with the number of specific positive autobiographical memories
As verbal fluency may account for the association between positive future thinking and the number of specific positive autobiographical memories we controlled for the Controlled Word Association Test (COWAT) in a partial correlation

Summary

Introduction

Future thinking and autobiographical memory are known as important aspects of cognitive functioning (Schacter, Addis, & Buckner, 2007), which both influence and can be influenced by depression. Autobiographical memory is commonly described as a memory system consisting of episodes recollected from an individual’s life These memories can be based on a combination of personal experiences about specific objects, people and events experienced at particular time and place, and general knowledge and facts about the world (Conway & Pleydell-Pearce, 2000). The ability to retrieve specific memories and perceiving positive future experiences are most likely important aspects for the maintenance of mental health. Dalgleish et al (2007) systematically examined eight studies and found that increased depressed mood was significantly related to reduced autobiographical memory specificity and that it was associated with decreased executive control and poorer problem solving performance Reduced ability to generate specific autobiographical memories is a well replicated phenomena in clinical depression (Williams et al, 2007). Dalgleish et al (2007) systematically examined eight studies and found that increased depressed mood was significantly related to reduced autobiographical memory specificity and that it was associated with decreased executive control and poorer problem solving performance

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