Brief report: the relationship between post-traumatic stress disorder symptoms and overgeneral autobiographical memory in older adults

Objective: The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms and autobiographical memory specificity in older adults. Method: Older adult trauma survivors (N = 23) completed the Autobiographical Memory Test, Posttraumatic Stress Diagnostic Scale, and Addenbrooke s Cognitive Examination-Revised. Results: When cognitive ability was partialled out, the relationship between PTSD symptoms and reduced autobiographical memory specificity was significant. Specifically, the relationships between reliving symptoms and avoidance symptoms correlated significantly with reduced autobiographical memory specificity. There was no significant relationship between hyperarousal symptoms and reduced autobiographical memory specificity. Conclusions: The findings suggest that similar to other populations, PTSD symptoms are also associated with reduced autobiographical memory specificity in older adults.