Autobiographical Memory Performance among People with AIDS/HIV

DSM-IV-TR recognized that it is possible for individuals to receive a PTSD diagnosis following experiencing life threatening illness including HIV/AIDS. This development has raised some questions about the nature of the stressor, and psychiatric symptoms experienced such as memory performance. The current study examines PTSD symptoms and autobiographical memory performance among individuals who have experienced AIDS or HIV. Participants in this study included 30 individuals with AIDS, and were matched by sex, age, level of education, marital and socio- economic status with 30 healthy controls. Both groups were administered the Impact of Event Scale (IES-R), Beck’s Depression Inventory (BDI), Beck’s Anxiety Inventory (BDI), Autobiographical Memory Interview (AMI) and Autobiographical memory Test (AMT). The results indicated high PTSD symptoms, depression and anxiety among patient group. The findings also showed that the personal semantic memory scores were lower in childhood and early adult stages among HIV/AIDS survivors comparing with normal control subjects. The findings are discussed in terms of the role of the self and processes involved in non-specific retrieval of autobiographical material.