Self-imagination can enhance memory in individuals with schizophrenia. Issue 2 (3rd March 2016)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Raffard, Stéphane; Bortolon, Catherine; Burca, Mariana; Novara, Caroline; Gely-Nargeot, Marie-Christine; Capdevielle, Delphine; Van der Linden, Martial
• Is Part Of: Cognitive neuropsychiatry. Volume 21:Issue 2(2016)
• Page Start: 168
• Page End: 181
• Publication Date: 2016-03-03
• Subjects: Self-imagining -- self-reference effect -- free recall -- schizophrenia; Neuropsychology -- Periodicals; 616.8
• DOI: 10.1080/13546805.2016.1155438
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1354-6805

Abstract

ABSTRACT: Objective : Previous research has demonstrated that self-referential strategies can be applied to improve memory in various memory- impaired populations. However, little is known regarding the relative effectiveness of self-referential strategies in schizophrenia patients. The main aim of this study was to assess the effectiveness of a new self-referential strategy known as self- imagination (SI) on a free recall task. Methods : Twenty schizophrenia patients and 20 healthy controls intentionally encoded words under five instructions: superficial processing, semantic processing, semantic self-referential processing, episodic self-referential processing and semantic self- imagining. Other measures included depression, psychotic symptoms and cognitive measures. Results : We found a SI effect in memory as self- imagining resulted in better performance in memory retrieval than semantic and superficial encoding in schizophrenia patients. The memory boost for self-referenced information in comparison to semantic processing was not found for other self-referential strategies. In addition no relationship between clinical variables and free recall performances was found. In controls, the SI condition did not result in better performance. The three self-referential strategies yielded better free recall than both superficial and semantic encoding. Conclusions : This study provides evidence of the clinical utility of self-imagining as a mnemonic strategy in schizophrenia patients.