Direct accessibility for overgeneral memory predicts a worse course of depression: Re-analysis of the online computerized Memory Specificity Training (c-MeST) for major depression study

Abstract

Researchers have been interested in what retrieval process is responsible for overgeneral autobiographical memories (OGM) in depression. Previous cross-sectional studies demonstrated that, for negatively-valenced cues, directly retrieved OGM, rather than generatively retrieved OGM, are associated with depression. However, longitudinal evidence of this relationship is still lacking and needs to be tested. We conducted a re-analysis of the online computerized memory specificity training (c-MeST) data to examine whether directly retrieved OGM for negative cues prospectively predicts high levels of depression one month later. The results supported our prediction, and directly retrieved OGM for negative cues predicted higher later depressive symptoms even after controlling for baseline depressive symptoms, executive function and rumination. Exploratory analysis showed that direct retrieval of specific memories prospectively predicted low levels of depression. These results support the theory that elevated accessibility of negatively-valenced general memory representations are a vulnerability factor for depressive symptoms.