Reduced specificity of autobiographical memory: A mediator between rumination and ineffective social problem-solving in major depression?

Abstract

Results offer support for the idea that lack of autobiographical memory specificity mediates the known relationship between rumination and poor problem-solving.

Low-dose tryptophan depletion in recovered depressed women induces impairments in autobiographical memory specificity

“…In depression-prone individuals, when minor decreases in serotonin availability threaten to cause depressive mood, this could trigger avoidance of specific recall in response to negative cues in the environment. Although this cognitive strategy is potentially successful in defending against mood decline, it is likely to have maladaptive long-term consequences: impaired memory specificity is known to be associated with impaired social problem solving (Goddard et al 1997;Raes et al 2005), difficulties imagining future events , increased rumination , and prolongation of current mood disturbances (Brittlebank et al 1993;Peeters et al 2002;Raes et al 2006). Thus, a small change in serotonin availability might produce a cascade of cognitive outcomes that could precipitate a depressive episode.…”

Ill-defined problem solving in amnestic mild cognitive impairment: Linking episodic memory to effective solution generation

“…C has friends and feels at home in the new neighborhood') of these vignettes and were asked to "solve" each one by producing a narrative which best connects the beginning to the end. We used an abbreviated version of the MEPS (i.e., the first four of ten items; Goddard et al, 1996;Raes et al, 2005). There are male and female versions of each MEPS problem.…”

Differential Contributions of Executive and Episodic Memory Functions to Problem Solving in Younger and Older Adults

“…For example, one item asks participants to generate a narrative in which an individual who moves into a new neighborhood eventually ends up feeling at home and having many friends in her new neighborhood. An abbreviated version was used in the present study (i.e., the first 4 of 10 items; c.f., Goddard et al, 1996, Raes et al, 2005.…”