Intrusive autobiographical memories in depression and post-traumatic stress disorder

Recent research into involuntary, intrusive autobiographical memories has found that, although they are present in non-clinical samples, they are much more common in patients with depression or post-traumatic stress disorder. Compared to controls, patients report memories that intrude more frequently, are more distressing, and sometimes have unusual characteristics, such as the sensation of reliving the event at the present moment. Intrusive memories in PTSD differ primarily from those found in depression by the greater evidence for dissociation at the time of the original event. The intrusion and avoidance of these memories are related to other aspects of patients' cognitive performance, and predict the course of their disorder, even when initial symptom severity is statistically controlled. Theoretical implications for the study of autobiographical memory and for cognitive models of depression and PTSD are discussed. © 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.