engleski

Autobiographical memory and traumatisation bz war in children

To examine the specificity of autobiographical memory and its relation to depression, posttraumatic stress, intrusions and negative life experiences at young age, 243 Croatian school-children living in a former war area were tested. Earlier studies showed a relative inability of patients suffering from depression and/or posttraumatic stress disorder to produce specific memories (e.g. McNally, Lasko, Macklin & Pitman, 1995; Williams & Scott, 1988). Williams (1996) proposed that this could be explained by intrusions accompanying these disorders and disturbing a normal retrieval process, or traumatic life events in childhood disturbing a normal development of a specific retrieval mode. In the present study girls were significantlz more specific than boys. Regression analysis showed that boys suffering from more depressive and posttraumatic stress symptoms produced more overgeneral memories. However, the relation of overgeneral memory with posttraumatic stress appeared to be explained by a co/morbid depression. In girls these relationships were not found. No support was found for the two explanations. Intensity of intrusions and negative life experiences at young age were not related to overgeneral memories.

autobiographical memory; posttraumatic stress symptoms; depression; Croatian children

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