Autobiographical memory following cognitive behaviour therapy for complicated grief

A deficit in the ability to retrieve specific autobiographical memories has been linked to a number of negative consequences, including poor problem solving skills, reduced ability to imagine the future, and the onset of symptoms following trauma. This study investigated the impact of cognitive behaviour therapy (CBT) on memory retrieval specificity in patients with Complicated Grief (CG). Twenty individuals with CG who were seeking treatment were administered an autobiographical memory task (AMT) before and after completing a 10-week CBT program. Pre-treatment retrieval specificity did not predict treatment outcome. However, there was a significant correlation between symptom reduction and increased specific retrieval to positive cues following treatment. These results suggest that overgeneral retrieval in CG can be modified by CBT, and may point to one means by which CBT can alleviate CG symptoms.

Research highlights
► Reduction in complicated grief symptoms following cognitive behaviour therapy is associated with increased retrieval of specific personal memories in response to positive cues.
► Cognitive behaviour therapy may modify deficits in retrieval of specific memories, which have been shown to characterize complicated grief.
► Recovery from complicated grief may involve enhancing access to specific positive memories of the past, which allow the individual to process and adapt to the loss of a loved one.