Well that changes everything! The genesis of memory bias for threat with implications for delayed onset in anxiety disorders

Background and ObjectivesA number of aetiological pathways have been proposed in the development of anxiety disorders, including those associated with stressful triggering situations. Life events can provide new meaning to past situations, potentially leading to the delayed onset of a disorder. Whether or not a disorder will emerge is theoretically related to one's appraisal and memory of prior events, and memory biases are proposed to exist for threat-related information in association with anxiety. Given that new events may change the meaning of past experiences, threatening information may change one's memory for once-neutral events.MethodsThe current study aimed to examine the effect of threatening information on memory for previously encoded (neutral) stimuli. Undergraduate participants (n = 81) interacted with 30 neutral objects (displayed in two boxes) and completed a recall memory test for these objects. They were then randomly assigned to receive either new threatening or new neutral information about half (one box) of the already-learned objects; a second recall test was then administered.ResultsIndividuals given threatening information showed a greater proportion of memory for items that were manipulated to total items recalled than did individuals given new non-threatening information.LimitationsA nonclinical sample reported relatively low ratings of disgust and anxiety. Additionally, the time between the two memory tests was brief, likely differing from the actual occurrence of delayed onset disorders.ConclusionsResults showed the genesis of a memory bias for threat in the presumed absence of an attentional bias, and are discussed in terms of the delayed onset of anxiety disorders.

► Memory bias for threat is a potential mechanism in delayed onset anxiety disorders.
► Analog study involved adding threat to once-neutral objects, testing memory change.
► Proportionately higher memory for threatening than non-threatening objects.
► Memory bias for threat supported in presumed absence of attentional bias.
► Memory bias is a possible mechanism involved in anxiety disorders of delayed onset.