Memory Deficits in Psychiatric Outpatients and Affective Ratings of Positive and Neutral Lists of Words

Abstract

The experimental findings on memory deficits from hospitalized psychiatric patients were applied to the recall and recognition memory of outpatients. Two positive and one list of 25 neutral words each were learned by the subjects for recognition and then rated as an orienting task during rehearsal for recall. On the first positive list, compared to 20 controls, the 7 patients showed substantial recall deficits, but recognition memory and affective ratings were relatively normal. On the subsequent positive list, outpatients' recall memory declined and did not recover after shifting to neutral words on the third list. There was little evidence for the build-up of interference, instead factors such as fatigue may affect patients' recall memory. Recognition memory showed signs of interference contributing to the patients' deficits. Psychiatric outpatients have significant recall deficits, less severe recognition deficits, and attitude problems that may contribute to the high rate of readmissions.

Thought suppression and memory biases during and after depressive moods

“…Differences in methodology between the present study and previous research may account for the unusual finding of a recognition bias among dysphoric individuals. Unlike previous research that has typically tested memory for positive or negative adjectives (Ceply & Tyson, 1988;Neshat-Doost et al, 1998;Zuroff et al, 1983) the present study used statements describing life experiences relevant to depression. Compared to adjective lists, the greater complexity and potential self-relevance of the statements may have made them more sensitive to moodrelevant biases.…”