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The study investigated the relationship between the suppression of trauma memories and overgeneral memory in 42 assault survivors with and without PTSD. Overgeneral memory (OGM) was assessed with a standard autobiographical memory test (AMT). Participants completed two further AMTs under the instructions to either suppress or not suppress assault memories, in counterbalanced order. Participants with PTSD retrieved fewer and more general memories when following the suppression instruction than participants without PTSD, but not under the control instruction. OGM correlated with PTSD symptom severity, and measures of cognitive avoidance. The results are discussed with reference to current theories of overgeneral memory and its possible relationship with PTSD.

Original publication

DOI

10.1080/09658210701256571

Type

Journal article

Journal

Memory

Publication Date

04/2007

Volume

15

Pages

339 - 352

Keywords

Adult, Analysis of Variance, Autobiography as Topic, Cognition, Female, Humans, Male, Memory, Middle Aged, Repression, Psychology, Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic, Surveys and Questionnaires, Survivors