Overgeneral autobiographical memory predicts changes in depression in a community sample

Tom Van Daele, James W. Griffith, Omer Van den Bergh, Dirk Hermans*

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

18 Scopus citations

Abstract

This study investigated whether overgeneral autobiographical memory (OGM) predicts the course of symptoms of depression and anxiety in a community sample, after 5, 6, 12 and 18 months. Participants (N = 156) completed the Autobiographical Memory Test and the Depression Anxiety Stress Scales-21 (DASS-21) at baseline and were subsequently reassessed using the DASS-21 at four time points over a period of 18 months. Using latent growth curve modelling, we found that OGM was associated with a linear increase in depression. We were unable to detect changes over time in anxiety. OGM may be an important marker to identify people at risk for depression in the future, but more research is needed with anxiety.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)1303-1312
Number of pages10
JournalCognition and Emotion
Volume28
Issue number7
DOIs
StatePublished - Oct 2014

Keywords

  • Anxiety
  • Autobiographical memory
  • Community sample
  • Depression
  • Latent growth curve modelling
  • Overgeneral autobiographical memory (OGM)
  • Prediction

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Experimental and Cognitive Psychology
  • Developmental and Educational Psychology
  • Arts and Humanities (miscellaneous)

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