Difficulties in retrieving specific details of autobiographical memories and imagining positive future events in individuals with acute but not remitted anorexia nervosa

Abstract

Plain English summary Problems with generating future episodic thoughts are a feature of depression, and depression is commonly present in individuals with anorexia nervosa (AN). In this study, the ability to remember autobiographical events and to think about events in the future was measured using a standardised task, in a group of 46 individuals with AN, 40 individuals recovered from AN and 35 individuals without AN. The results showed that individuals with AN showed difficulties in recalling specific details of autobiographical memories, and rated them as less positive and vivid. People with current AN or recovered from AN reported greater difficulty in recalling autobiographical memories. Lastly, people with AN produced less positive episodic future events. Comorbid depressive symptoms had some contribution to these difficulties. This study suggests that individuals with AN have difficulty recalling specific details of autobiographical memory and generating positive episodic future thoughts. This is likely to cast a negative bias on their view of the future, which could lessen hope for recovery.

Keywords

• Anorexia nervosa
• Autobiographical memory
• Depression
• Eating disorders
• Episodic future thinking
• Memory