Autobiographical Memories and PTSD

Abstract

PTSD has long been associated with alterations in autobiographical memory. In addition to those memory-related symptoms of PTSD found in the diagnostic criteria, such as intrusive memories and flashbacks, researchers have found that individuals with PTSD tend to have difficulty recalling specific moments from their past, a phenomenon referred to as overgeneralized autobiographical memory. Since the original findings were presented two and half decades ago, there now exists a considerable body of work examining the mechanisms underlying overgeneralization. This chapter summarizes the findings on overgeneral memory to date, including the paradigms employed to study this phenomenon, as well as the theories, research outcomes, and implications for vulnerability to and recovery from traumatic stress.