The Effectiveness of Autobiographical Memory Specificity Training (MEST) on Depression in Veterans with Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder in Isfahan

Background and Aim: Due to their special conditions, veterans with post-traumatic stress disorder are exposed to psychological disorders including depression. Overgeneral autobiographical memory is a persistent factor in depression. Consequently, the aim of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of autobiographical memory specificity training on depression in veterans with post-traumatic stress disorder in Isfahan.

Methods: This study is a quasi-experimental with pre-test and post-test and follow up along with a control group. The study population included the veterans with PTSD in the Shahid Rajaei hospital of Isfahan in 2016. To do so, 30 patients were selected through convenience sampling method and assigned to two groups (experimental=15), (control=15) randomly. The research instrument of this study was the Beck Depression Inventory second edition (BDI-II). At first, the pre-tests and post-test was administered into two groups and the experimental group were trained 7 sessions of 2 hours twice a week while the control group continued ordinarily (medication). Data were analyzed by covariance method using the SPSS 16 software.

Results: The average score of the experimental group was calculated 46.46±4.91 (in pre-test) before any intervention, 34.46±4.74 (in post-test) after the intervention and 36.20±4.57 in follow-up. Findings showed that the difference of means in two groups was significant in post-test and follow up (P <0.05). Consequently, MEST decreased the severity of depression in the experimental group.

Conclusion: By reducing the overgeneral autobiographical memory and enhancing the memory specificity, the memory specificity training treatment can help improve depression.