The effect of mild stress on the functioning of autobiographical memory (preliminary report) Preliminary report
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Abstract
Autobiographical memory (AM) is the part of the memory concerning the individual’s past. It is a phenomenon impacting i.a. person’s creation of goals, activity, making plans and developing one’s personality. In many psychopathological conditions AM’s distortions may appear, such as flashbacks and overgeneral memories (OGM).
The aim of the study was the evaluation of the effect of a mild stress on the tendency to generalize memories. Three groups of patients (each N = 20) were examined. The study group consisted of people hospitalized due to cholelithiasis and with chronic pancreatitis. Two comparison groups were used – people hospitalized for an episode of depression – and panel group – mentally healthy medical professionals. Authors tried to choose an adequate group in terms of age and education.
The specificity of memories differentiated 3 groups the most – it was similar and higher in the study and the panel groups with the majority of positive emotional cue words. However, when the words associated with negative emotions were used, the study group resembled depressed group. There was no difference in the number of associated words to stimuli of negative affect. There was lower number of associated words to stimuli of positive affect in depressed group.
Higher occurrence of OGM in patients with depression was confirmed. The study of patients in a situation of mild stress was a novelty. The discussion about the hypothetical mechanism of OGM’s formation in reaction for negative words only as an effect of mild stress was carried out.
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