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Mapping Emotional Memories in Depression: An Exploratory Analysis.

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Title: Mapping Emotional Memories in Depression: An Exploratory Analysis.
Authors: Stemerding, Lotte Elizabeth (AUTHOR), de Beurs, Derek (AUTHOR), Arntz, Arnoud (AUTHOR), Kindt, Merel (AUTHOR)
Source: Cognitive Therapy & Research. Apr2026, Vol. 50 Issue 2, p403-414. 12p.
Subjects: Child abuse, Autobiographical memory, EMDR (Eye-movement desensitization & reprocessing), Cognitive therapy, Mental imagery, Mental depression, Psychological factors
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. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
Copyright of Cognitive Therapy & Research is the property of Springer Nature and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)
Database: Psychology and Behavioral Sciences Collection
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  Data: Mapping Emotional Memories in Depression: An Exploratory Analysis.
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Stemerding%2C+Lotte+Elizabeth%22">Stemerding, Lotte Elizabeth</searchLink> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22de+Beurs%2C+Derek%22">de Beurs, Derek</searchLink> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Arntz%2C+Arnoud%22">Arntz, Arnoud</searchLink> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Kindt%2C+Merel%22">Kindt, Merel</searchLink> (AUTHOR)
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Child+abuse%22">Child abuse</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Autobiographical+memory%22">Autobiographical memory</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22EMDR+%28Eye-movement+desensitization+%26+reprocessing%29%22">EMDR (Eye-movement desensitization & reprocessing)</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Cognitive+therapy%22">Cognitive therapy</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Mental+imagery%22">Mental imagery</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Mental+depression%22">Mental depression</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Psychological+factors%22">Psychological factors</searchLink>
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  Data: 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. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
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  Data: <i>Copyright of Cognitive Therapy & Research is the property of Springer Nature and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract.</i> (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)
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