INTRUSIVE MEMORIES AND DEPRESSION IN CANCER-PATIENTS

Matched samples of depressed and nondepressed cancer patients were int erviewed about past life events, particularly experiences of death and illness. They identified and described any spontaneous intrusive visu al memories they had experienced in the past week corresponding to the se events. About one quarter reported such memories and, as predicted, the majority of intrusive memories concerned illness, injury and deat h. The mean levels of intrusion and avoidance were equivalent to patie nts with post-traumatic stress disorder. Consistent with prediction, d epressed patients reported significantly more intrusive memories than controls, and described the memories as typically beginning with or be ing exacerbated by the onset of depression. Greater numbers of intrusi ve memories were associated with more maladaptive coping, and greater avoidance with deficits in autobiographical memory functioning. (C) 19 98 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.