Autobiographical memory deficits in acute transient psychosis after remission

• Published in: Archives of Mental Health 2012, Vol.13 (2), p.93-98
• Main Authors: Sadhu, Raja, Kumar, SashiB, Srinivas, TR, Mongia, Monica, Arya, SC
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: acute and transient psychotic disorder; acute psychosis; dis-inhibitions; key message - patients found it difficult to remember catatonic features; manic symptoms; personal care and biological function impairments which occurred during their psychotic episodes after clinical remission of their acute transient psychotic episodes key words: autobiographical memory deficits
• ISSN: 2589-9171; 2589-918X
• DOI: 10.4103/2589-9171.227244

Background: In our clinical practice, in patients who went into clinical remission from their psychotic episodes, we found variability in recall pattern of events and experiences occurring during psychotic states. Aims: The present study aimed to find out the deficits in autobiographical memory regarding the events and experiences which occurred during psychotic states in clinically remitted acute and transient psychotic disorder (ATPD) patients. Method: Consecutive patients (20), who went into clinical remission within a period of three months of onset of their first ATPD episodes, along with their informants (20), who were selected as per specific inclusion and exclusion criteria, were interviewed within a period of two months of clinical remission of their psychotic episodes. The interviews were based on a list which included items regarding different events and experiences restricted to the period of patients' illness and their recall abilities were compared. Results: Catatonic features, features suggestive of dis-inhibition, impairment of personal care, manic features and biological function impairment were the items which patients found difficult to recall. Conclusion: The study showed that the patients had autobiographical memory deficits regarding their catatonic features, dis-inhibitions, personal care and biological function impairments and manic symptoms after their clinical remission, which has clinical and management implications. However the study was limited by the small sample size and naturalistic design.