Journal of Psychosomatic Research
Volume 57, Issue 4 , Pages 363-366, October 2004

Autobiographical memories in patients treated for breast cancer

  • Elisabeth Nilsson-Ihrfelt

      Affiliations

    • Department of Psychology, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
    • ,
  • Marie-Louise Fjällskog

      Affiliations

    • Department of Oncology, University Hospital, Uppsala, Sweden
    • ,
  • Anders Liss

      Affiliations

    • Department of Plastic Surgery, University Hospital, Uppsala, Sweden
    • ,
  • Olafur Jakobsson

      Affiliations

    • Department of Plastic Surgery, University Hospital, Uppsala, Sweden
    • ,
  • Carl Blomqvist

      Affiliations

    • Department of Oncology, University Hospital, Uppsala, Sweden
    • ,
  • Gerhard Andersson

      Affiliations

    • Corresponding Author InformationCorresponding author. Tel.: +46-13-28-58-40; fax: +46-13-28-21-45
    • Department of Behavioural Sciences, Linköping University, SE-581 83 Linköping, Sweden

Received 16 April 2003; accepted 13 January 2004.

Abstract 

Objective

Previous research has shown that several clinical groups have difficulties with generating specific autobiographical memories. The aim of this study was to investigate autobiographical memory function in women who had been treated for breast cancer and to compare those patients who had undergone mastectomy only with those who had undergone breast reconstruction surgery after mastectomy.

Method

A sample of 26 women treated for breast cancer were tested via telephone using the Autobiographical Memory Test (AMT).

Results

Breast cancer patients had difficulty retrieving specific autobiographical memories compared to a group of age-matched controls without any history of breast cancer. There were essentially no differences between the two patient groups.

Conclusion

Since breast cancer patients are vulnerable to emotional distress, autobiographical memory deficits should be investigated further.

Keywords:  Autobiographical memory, Breast cancer, Mastectomy, Breast reconstruction

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PII: S0022-3999(04)00045-5

doi:10.1016/j.jpsychores.2004.01.009

Journal of Psychosomatic Research
Volume 57, Issue 4 , Pages 363-366, October 2004

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