The effects of electroconvulsive therapy and depression on confabulation, memory processing, and suggestibility

Abstract

effects of electroconvulsive therapy and depression on confabulation, memory processing, and suggestibility. Nord J Psychiatry 1994;48:443451. Oslo. ISSN 0803-9488.A prospective study was carried out to investigate the influence of electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) and depression on confabulation, verbal memory, and suggestibility. The subjects were 30 depressed patients with major depressive disorder as defined by DSM-III-R criteria, half of whom were treated with ECT, the other half with antidepressants only, and a control group of I5 healthy subjects. All participants were assessed with the Gudjonsson Suggestibility Scales (GSS), which measured confabulation, memory, and suggestibility. The patients were also assessed with the Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression (HRSD). Contrary to predictions, confabulation was significantly higher among the controls than patients during inpatient treatment, ECT-treated patients catching up with controls during convalescence. ECT but not depression had a significant effect on delayed recall at the end of the inpatient period. Neither ECT nor depression significantly affected suggestibility. A significant negative correlation was noted between age and confabulation.

High functioning autism spectrum disorders: an investigation of psychological vulnerabilities during interrogative interview

“…There is relatively less research concerning suggestibility and these variables. However, the current results would support the findings of Sigurdsson, Gudjonsson, Kolbeinsson, and Petursson (1994) that depression does not elevate suggestibility, and the theoretical argument that suspiciousness may be associated with a more resistant cognitive set (Gudjonsson & Clark, 1986). It may be that individuals with ASD were predisposed to adopt a less trusting approach than controls, and thus may have been more inclined to doubt leading questions and negative feedback.…”

The relationship of confabulation to the memory, intelligence, suggestibility and personality of prison inmates

“…The GSS 1, and its parallel form the GSS 2 (Gudjonsson, 1987), can both be used to measure confabulation (Gudjonsson, 1992). Indeed, several studies have been conducted into confabulation using the two Scales (Clare and Gudjonsson, 1993;Clare, Gudjonsson, Rutter and Cross, 1994;Gudjonsson and Clare, 1995;Howells and Ward, 1994;Register and Kihlstrom, 1988;Sigurdsson et al 1994;Smith and Gudjonsson, 1986;Smith and Gudjonsson, 1995;Tata and Gudjonsson, 1990).…”

“…The Icelandic translation of the GSSl was used (Sigurdsson et al 1994). The interrogation questions were administered after immediate recall, which is identical to the method used by Gudjonsson and Lister (1984) and Gudjonsson and Singh (1 984).…”

“…Traditionally, confabulation has been primarily studied in relation to organic conditions (Berlyne, 1972;Kopelman, 1987;Mercer, Wapner, Gardner and Benson, 1977;Sigurdsson, Gudjonsson, Kolbeinsson and Petursson, 1994) and pseudomemory generated during hypnosis (Laurence and Perry, 1983;Ome, 1979;Register and Kihlstrom, 1988;Sheehan, 1989). However, in recent years the concept has become of great forensic interest (Gudjonsson, 1992;Smith and Gudjonsson, 1995).…”

False Memory Syndrome and the Retractors: Methodological and Theoretical issues

“…The confabulatory impact of the hypnotic procedure is well known in the literature and McConkey and Sheehan (1995) recently discussed this in relation to recovered memories. In a study among severely depressed inpatients and normal controls, Sigurdsson, Gudjonsson, Kolbeinsson, and Petursson (1994) found that contrary to predictions, confabulation as measured by the two Gudjonsson Suggestibility Scales (Gudjonsson, 1984(Gudjonsson, , 1987 was significantly lower among the depressed patients, but it increased to that of the normal controls once their depression had been successfully treated. The depression had no influence on the patients' susceptibility to give in to leading questions.…”