Feasibility and Effectiveness of Memory Specificity Training MeST in Individuals with Depressive Disorder An Open Label pre post comparative study

Depression affects about 280 million people worldwide and in low-income countries like India with limited skilled clinicians, resources, and high waiting time; efficient treatment options are imperative. CaR-FA-X model suggests, individuals with recurrent depressive disorders have disturbances in autobiographical memory, specifically the propensity to recollect over generalised autobiographical memory (OGM). It functions as an avoidance strategy abating the undesirable impact of recalling specific memories containing emotionally distressing themes. Overgeneralised negative self-judgements seize the retrieval of specific memory contributing to worthlessness and hopelessness while inability to recall specific memories of positive experiences exacerbates anhedonia and reduces ability to repair low mood, playing a significant role in maintenance and relapse of depression. In the present research, MEmory Specificity Training (MeST) will target the reduction of OGM by training autobiographical memory specificity to improve depressive symptomology. Aim of the study is to assess the effectiveness of MeST in depression. Methods to be used will be a pre-post intervention study, 40 individuals with major depressive disorder as per ICD-10 DCR will be recruited from clinical settings using purposive sampling method. After baseline assessments of memory specificity, depression, rumination and mindfulness, participants will alternatively be allocated into MeST + Pharmacotherapy group and Pharmacotherapy only group. MeST group will receive 4 bi-weekly sessions of 60 minutes and participants would be assessed at post-intervention along with both groups being assessed at 1 month follow up as well. This intervention study will help in investigating the feasibility and acceptability of MeST in Indian context and future research may guide whether this can be used as a stand alone or adjunct therapy to other gold standard therapies that fail to address autobiographical memory deficits.