Autobiographical memory in postnatal depression

Recent commentaries have suggested that women with postnatal depression (PND) experience negatively biased evaluations of their parental abilities and performance. This study investigated the differential accessibility of positive and negative memories in women with PND. Thirteen PND and 13 nondepressed mothers were administered the Autobiographical Memory Test. PND participants retrieved fewer specific memories, and retrieved them move slowly, than controls. PND participants retrieved more negative, and fewer positive, memories with a parental theme than controls. Severity of PND was significantly correlated with deficits in accessing specific memories. Findings are discussed in terms of the application of cognitive therapies to women with PND.