Involuntary and voluntary autobiographical memory specificity as a function of depression

Background and objectivesThis study tests the hypothesis derived from the CaR-FA-X model (Capture and Rumination, Functional Avoidance and Executive Function model, Williams et al., 2007), that depressed individuals will be less specific during voluntary than involuntary autobiographical memory retrieval and looks at the relative contributions of rumination, avoidance and executive function to memory specificity.MethodsTwenty depressed and twenty never depressed individuals completed a memory diary, recording 10 involuntary and 10 voluntary autobiographical memories. Psychiatric status (assessed with the Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-IV, SCID-1), psychopathology, rumination, avoidance and executive function were assessed prior to completion of the memory diary.ResultsBoth groups were more specific during involuntary than voluntary memory retrieval. No overall group differences were identified. However, when non-remitted depressed participants were compared to partially remitted and never depressed participants the expected interaction was identified; non-remitted depressed individuals were less specific during voluntary, but not during involuntary recall. Consistent with theory, negative correlations between memory specificity, rumination and avoidance were also present.LimitationsThe study presents an important yet preliminary finding which warrants further replication with a larger sample size.ConclusionsThe findings provide support for a number of models of autobiographical memory retrieval in particular the CaR-FA-X model of memory specificity.

► Memory specificity was measured in depressed and never depressed individuals.
► Memories were retrieved both voluntarily and involuntarily.
► Depressed individuals retrieved less specific memories during voluntary retrieval.
► This effect was only present in those who remained depressed during the diary study.
► No group differences were identified during involuntary memory retrieval.