Autobiographical Memory in Three Groups of Boys; Depressed,Depressed with Substance Abuse and Normal

The main aim of this study was to investigate the over generality of autobiographical memory among depressed, depressed with substance abuse, and normal boy adolescents. 76 adolescent boys (25 depressed, 25 depressed with substance abuse, and 26 normal) selected of Kermanshah adolescents. Three groups were matched with consideration of age, gender, educational levels, and marital status. Williams and Broadbent’s (1986) autobiographical memory test was administered among selected samples. U Mann Whitney runs for analyzing of data. The results showed that depressed adolescents have higher scored in over generality of autobiographical memory in comparison of normal adolescents. This result repeated for depressed adolescents with substance abuse. Also, depressed adolescents have higher scored in comparison of depressed adolescents with substance abuse. Altogether, the result of this research showed over generality of autobiographical memory is an important characteristic of depression, continuity of depression and relapse of depression.