Autobiographical memory, depression and quality of life in multiple sclerosis

The relationship between autobiographical memory, depression and quality of life (QoL) was investigated in a study of 30 persons with severe neurodisa bility resulting from multiple sclerosis. Sixty percent (n = 18) of patient s were found to have deficits in autobiographical memory (AMI) for incident s in their earlier life; these deficits were associated with significant im pairments in personal semantic memory of facts from their past life. Patien ts with impaired autobiographical memory who had been diagnosed for longer than 21 years reported significantly better QoL (SF-36: Role Physical) than those diagnosed more recently, or those with normal autobiographical memor y; patients who had been diagnosed for longer were also significantly less depressed than patients diagnosed more recently. Patients with normal autob iographical memory reported the highest levels of depression (HADS) and the lowest levels of QoL (Role Physical). It is concluded that impairment of a utobiographical memory affects perception of QoL; patients with deficits in autobiographical memory had impaired knowledge about their past QoL and ma y therefore be unable to make valid comparative judgements about the qualit y of their present life.