Self-awareness of Autobiographical Memory in Psychosis

• Research type

  Research Study

• Full title

  An exploration of self-awareness of autobiographical memory functioning in forensic mental health service users with psychosis.

• IRAS ID

  158200

• Contact name

  Lynsey Cameron

• Contact email

  l.cameron.2@research.gla.ac.uk

• Sponsor organisation

  NHS Lanarkshire

• Duration of Study in the UK

  0 years, 6 months, 25 days

• Research summary

  People with psychosis often display deficits in autobiographical memory (AM) functioning. Compared to the healthy population, they are less able to recall detailed memories of events from their own lives. In addition, they are often unaware of deficits in their general cognitive abilities. It is unclear if deficits in awareness are specific to AM or are related to a generalised deficit in metacognitive ability (the ability to think about thoughts and feelings of the self and others). Improved understanding of these deficits may be relevant to addressing problems with service engagement and participation in psychological therapy. Put simply, not recognising the presence and extent of problems with mental functioning will likely undermine the intention to engage in treatment. The implications of such deficits may be particularly problematic in forensic populations where poor service engagement may be associated with repeat criminal offending. This study will examine AM awareness, metacognitive functioning, and service engagement in people receiving care within forensic mental health settings.

  Aims:
  1. Establish if there is a relationship between impaired self-awareness of AM functioning, metacognitive ability, and general cognitive functioning.
  2. Identify if AM for crime-related memories differs from general autobiographical recollection
  3· Examine the impact of unawareness on service engagement

  Methods
  Up to 40 service users of Glasgow and Lanarkshire’s community forensic mental health services with a diagnosis of psychosis will be tested in one 90-minute session. AM and metacognitive ability will be assessed via interview and neurocognitive testing. Subjective ratings will be obtained for perceived clarity, accuracy, and completeness of overall AM functioning and memory for past offending. NHS clinical staff will provide ratings of service engagement.

• REC name

  West of Scotland REC 5

• REC reference

  14/WS/1122

• Date of REC Opinion

  21 Oct 2014

• REC opinion

  Favourable Opinion