Reduced ability to retrieve specific autobiographical memories is a well-defined feature of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and science-driven interventions have emerged to improve memory specificity and thereby symptoms. However, research in depressed samples indicates that the ability to flexibly move between retrieval of specific and general memory types (i.e., memory flexibility) may more accurately conceptualize autobiographical memory deficits in emotional disturbance. In this study, we evaluated memory specificity and memory flexibility in Iranian trauma survivors (N = 63) with and without PTSD relative to community control participants. Trauma-exposed participants had experienced a serious road-traffic accident. Results indicated that individuals with PTSD experienced reduced memory specificity and memory flexibility relative to trauma-exposed participants and community control participants. A small sample size limits the strength of conclusions, although good statistical power was obtained. Findings suggest that reduced memory flexibility may be a transdiagnostic marker of emotional disturbance and support further development of memory flexibility interventions for PTSD.

检索特定自传记忆的能力降低是创伤后应激障碍 (PTSD) 的一个明确特征，并且已经出现了科学驱动的干预措施来改善记忆特异性，从而改善症状。然而，对抑郁样本的研究表明，在特定和一般记忆类型的检索之间灵活移动的能力（即记忆灵活性）可能更准确地概念化情绪障碍中的自传记忆缺陷。在这项研究中，我们评估了伊朗创伤幸存者的记忆特异性和记忆灵活性（N= 63) 相对于社区控制参与者有和没有 PTSD。遭受创伤的参与者经历了严重的道路交通事故。结果表明，与遭受创伤的参与者和社区控制参与者相比，PTSD 患者的记忆特异性和记忆灵活性降低。尽管获得了良好的统计功效，但样本量小限制了结论的强度。研究结果表明，记忆灵活性降低可能是情绪障碍的跨诊断标志，并支持进一步开发针对 PTSD 的记忆灵活性干预措施。