Mapping Emotional Memories in Depression: An Exploratory Analysis

Abstract Background Adverse childhood experiences are a key predictor of the development and relapse of adult depression. While current CBT-based treatments commonly target more proximal causes of depression such as maladaptive cognitions and biases, memory-focused interventions like EMDR and Imagery Rescripting directly target emotional memories of adverse childhood experiences, offering promising new avenues to treat depression. Few studies, however, have systematically investigated what aspects of emotional memory relate to psychopathology, and could thus be important targets for these interventions. We explored the relationship between phenomenological aspects of negative autobiographical memories and current depressive symptoms in a cross-sectional study. Methods In an online questionnaire, 119 first-year university students reported a formative negative emotional memory from childhood or adolescence and rated various aspects of this memory, such as the vividness, intrusiveness, and coherence. We also introduced the aspect of “emotional impact” that indexed effects of the memory on current mood, emotions, and identity. Results After correcting for multiple comparisons, only childhood maltreatment (CTQ-SF) and emotional impact predicted current depressive symptoms (PHQ-9). The effect of emotional impact remained significant when controlling for childhood maltreatment and the negativity of the memory. Conclusion These findings suggest that emotional impact represents a clinically relevant aspect of emotional memory, and highlight a potential pathway through which negative memories affect depressive symptoms.