Autobiographical memories in patients treated for breast cancer
Received 16 April 2003; accepted 13 January 2004.
Abstract
Objective
Previous research has shown that several clinical groups have difficulties with generating specific autobiographical memories. The aim of this study was to investigate autobiographical memory function in women who had been treated for breast cancer and to compare those patients who had undergone mastectomy only with those who had undergone breast reconstruction surgery after mastectomy.
Method
A sample of 26 women treated for breast cancer were tested via telephone using the Autobiographical Memory Test (AMT).
Results
Breast cancer patients had difficulty retrieving specific autobiographical memories compared to a group of age-matched controls without any history of breast cancer. There were essentially no differences between the two patient groups.
Conclusion
Since breast cancer patients are vulnerable to emotional distress, autobiographical memory deficits should be investigated further.
ABSTRACT