The Relationship Between Problem-Solving and Autobiographical Memory in Parasuicide Patients

Abstract

The relationship between effectiveness of interpersonal problem-solving and specificity of autobiographical memory was examined for 35 patients admitted to an inner-city District General Hospital following a deliberate drug-overdose. The results replicated those of Evans, Williams, O'Loughlin and Howells (1992) in finding a significant correlation between ineffective problem-solving and the over-general retrieval of autobiographical memories, giving further support to the suggestion that an over-general memory database may underpin the problem-solving deficits characteristic of parasuicide patients. However, the correlation coefficient computed was notably lower than in the Evans et al. study and an attempt is made to explain this discrepancy on the basis of differences in the levels of psychopathology between the patients involved in each study.

Using what we know: Consequences of intentionally retrieving gist versus item-specific information.

“…For instance, in clinical depression, a sustained orientation toward the retrieval of general or categoric memories (Williams & Dritschel, 1992) may make it increasingly difficult to retrieve specific episodes or details, further compounding the impairments in problem solving that overly general memory retrieval may yield (e.g., Raes et al, 2005;Sidley, Whitaker, Calam, & Wells, 1997;see, especially, Watkins, Teasdale, & Williams, 2000, for evidence that alterations of cognitive state at the time of memory retrieval may reduce the recall of categorical memories in depression). Likewise, a gist-based predisposition in older adults (e.g., Koutstaal et al, 2003;Tun et al, 1998) may, across time, make more specific retrieval ever more difficult.…”

Autobiographical Memory in Borderline Personality Disorder and Depression1

“…Two groups of researchers have replicated Williams and Broadbent's (1986) findings of overgeneral recall in patients who attempted suicide (Evans et al, 1992;Sidley et al, 1997). Moreover, McNally, Lasko, Macklin, and Pitman (1995) reported patients with PTSD have similar difficulties in retrieving specific memories.…”

“…In several studies, overgeneral retrieval has proved to be related to poor problem solving (Evans, Williams, O'Loughlin, & Howells, 1992;Goddard et al, 1996;Sidley, Whitaker, Calam, & Wells, 1997), and it may be a predictor for the course of depression (Brittlebank, Scott, Williams, & Ferrier, 1993; but see Brewin et al, 1999). Mackinger et al (2000) provide further evidence for the persistent nature of overgeneral retrieval style.…”

Correlates of autobiographical memory specificity: the role of depression, anxiety and childhood trauma

“…However, there are good reasons to believe that a lack of specificity is not mood-dependent but rather reflects a stable trait (e.g., Williams, 1996). To begin with, a number of studies failed to find significant correlations between mood questionnaire scores and overgeneral recall (Kuyken & Brewin, 1995;Merckelbach, Muris & Horselenberg, 1996;Sidley, Whitaker, Calam & Wells, 1997;Williams & Dritschel, 1988). Furthermore, Williams and Dritschel (1988) found that recovered overdose patients were comparable to current overdose patients in terms of their autobiographical memory performance.…”