intrusive memories
Although ordinary one-off involuntary autobiographical memories occur on a daily basis, sometimes people also experience recurring involuntary memories which can be highly unpleasant, for example, recalling a near fatal car accident, break up of a relationship or a death of a relative. In clinical literature they have been studied under the term of ‘intrusive memories’. These can be defined as involuntary spontaneous memories of a (mostly) negative event, which repeatedly intrude upon consciousness, often against one’s will, are hard to control and may disrupt one’s ongoing activities.
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Intrusive memories have been studied predominantly in clinical populations, especially in people with Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and depression but they have also been documented in general population.
Despite some similarities between involuntary autobiographical memories and intrusive memories in terms of their spontaneous occurrence, they differ in a number of ways. First, involuntary autobiographical memories are random, one-off memories, which pop into mind only once or twice and may never be recalled again, whereas the key feature of intrusive memories is their repetitive nature, so that a particular memory keeps coming back and disturbing the individual. Second, involuntary autobiographical memories are not necessarily negative, and they do not normally disrupt the activities. Often, it is hard to even notice them, as they form part of our normal stream of consciousness and do not stay in our mind for longer than few seconds. Finally, they do not involve active avoidance attempts, which is one of the key features of intrusive memories.
Despite some similarities between involuntary autobiographical memories and intrusive memories in terms of their spontaneous occurrence, they differ in a number of ways. First, involuntary autobiographical memories are random, one-off memories, which pop into mind only once or twice and may never be recalled again, whereas the key feature of intrusive memories is their repetitive nature, so that a particular memory keeps coming back and disturbing the individual. Second, involuntary autobiographical memories are not necessarily negative, and they do not normally disrupt the activities. Often, it is hard to even notice them, as they form part of our normal stream of consciousness and do not stay in our mind for longer than few seconds. Finally, they do not involve active avoidance attempts, which is one of the key features of intrusive memories.
our research on intrusive memories
Most research on intrusive memories in both clinical and non clinical population has been based on interview and questionnaire methods in which people describe the nature and frequency of their intrusive memories hours, days or weeks after they have taken place.
To avoid any potential biases in such retrospective reporting, our research on intrusive memories is based on a diary method (both paper and electronic). This allows participants to record the occurrence and characteristics of intrusive memories into a diary as soon as they occur in everyday life. We are currently running several projects on intrusive memories in general population and people suffering from Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (in collaboration with Prof. Jamie Hacker Hughes). Future projects will involve people suffering from depression, post-natal depression and OCD. The primary objective of this research is to enrich our knowledge of circumstances and triggers that elicit intrusive memories in everyday life and the effects that diary keeping may have on participants.
To avoid any potential biases in such retrospective reporting, our research on intrusive memories is based on a diary method (both paper and electronic). This allows participants to record the occurrence and characteristics of intrusive memories into a diary as soon as they occur in everyday life. We are currently running several projects on intrusive memories in general population and people suffering from Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (in collaboration with Prof. Jamie Hacker Hughes). Future projects will involve people suffering from depression, post-natal depression and OCD. The primary objective of this research is to enrich our knowledge of circumstances and triggers that elicit intrusive memories in everyday life and the effects that diary keeping may have on participants.