Depressed patients tend to under-estimate their everyday memory function. Whether this under-estimation is related to the depressive state, or whether it represents underlying personality traits present also between or after depressive episodes, is not clear.

Comparisons of subjective memory evaluation as measured by the Everyday Memory Questionnaire (EMQ) were made between sub-groups with Current Depression (N=14), Previous Depression (N=19), and Healthy Controls (N=10). Analyses were adjusted for effects of sociodemographic variables, use of medication, and premorbid intellectual abilities (Similarities sub-test (WASI)). To assess the relationship between affective state and subjective memory function irrespective of actual memory performance, adjustment for objective memory performance as represented by the Total recall sub-task from CVLT and Long-delayed free recall from RCFT was included in a final step in the ANCOVA model.

The overall crude relationship between group and EMQ total score was significant (F(2,40)=4.11, p=0.011, eta sq.= .17). In posthoc follow-up tests, the Currently Depressed reported significantly lower on EMQ than both Previously Depressed and Controls (Dunnett's C test, p= .018 and p= .034, respectively). However, after adjustment for relevant confounders and mediators, both the Previously and Currently Depressed performed significantly worse on EMQ compared to Controls (overall ANCOVA F(2,33)=9.22, p= .001, eta sq.= .36; pairwise follow-ups p= .001 and p= .011, respectively).

Depressed patients’ under-estimation of their memory function is independent of mood state and it may represent a vulnerability or personality structure involving negative cognitive patterns that may be successfully targeted by cognitive therapy.