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Cited by 87Psychosomatic Disorders and Their TreatmentsCognitive Functions and MemoryMemory Processes and Influences

How are memory complaints in functional memory disorder related to measures of affect, metamemory and cognition?

Metternich, Birgitta, Schmidtke, Klaus, Hüll, Michael·2009·Journal of Psychosomatic Research
DOI 10.1016/j.jpsychores.2008.07.005
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Abstract

Objective Memory complaints are a common finding in outpatients, especially in psychosomatic and neurological practice. In a substantial group of patients persistent memory complaints are found in the absence of abnormal neuropsychology. Different labels such as "functional memory complaint" have been suggested for this phenomenon. We characterise a group of patients with such memory complaints, which we termed functional memory disorder (FMD). The aim of the present study is to describe patients with FMD.Methods Thirty-nine patients with FMD were compared to 38 control subjects. Data were collected on the German version of the Rey Auditory Verbal Learning test and the Zahlenverbindungstest (cognitive speed), subscales of the Metamemory in Adulthood questionnaire (MIA), the Perceived Stress Questionnaire (PSQ), the Global Severity Index (GSI) of the Symptom Checklist, the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), and other psychological questionnaire measures.Results We found significant group differences on all psychological questionnaire measures, with more pathological scores in the patient group. GSI and PSQ were the best predictors of memory self-efficacy. MIA-Memory Self-Efficacy (MSE), MIA-Achievement, and BDI were the best predictors of group membership (FMD vs. control group). When MSE was excluded, MIA-Achievement and BDI or GSI were the only predictors of group membership. Neuropsychological measures predicted neither MSE nor group membership.Conclusions Pathological scores on measures of metamemory, stress, and depression are typical of FMD. Low MSE and a high memory-related achievement motivation seem to be key features of FMD. Other important features are increased perceived stress, general psychosomatic complaint, and elevated depression scores. Neuropsychological test performance is not associated with FMD symptoms.

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  • These individuals have sometimes been characterised as 'memory perfectionists'; expecting a very high standard from their memory and being very concerned about what clinicians perceive as minor lapses.

    “These individuals have sometimes been characterised as ' memory perfectionists ' ; expecting a very high standard from their memory and being very concerned about what clinicians perceive as minor lapses (31).”

    From A qualitative analysis of patients' day-to-day living with functional cognitive disorder (FCD). (2025) · cites this paper as [31]

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Authors
Metternich, B., Schmidtke, K., & Hüll, M.
Affiliations
University Medical Center Freiburg (DE)
Corresponding author
Hüll, Michael
ORCID
Metternich, Birgitta
Venue
Journal of Psychosomatic Research
Publisher
Elsevier BV
Published
2009-05
Volume
66
Issue
5
Pages
435-444
ISSN
0022-3999 (ISSN-L)
DOI
10.1016/j.jpsychores.2008.07.005
OpenAlex
W2028186013
Cited by
87
References
44
Citations by year
2026: 5 · 2025: 2 · 2024: 5 · 2023: 8 · 2022: 4 · 2021: 7 · 2020: 6 · 2019: 6 · 2018: 3 · 2017: 4 · 2016: 5 · 2015: 4 · 2014: 7 · 2013: 2 · 2012: 6
FWCI
3.09
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
closed
Licence
www.elsevier.com/tdm/userlicense/1.0/ (tdm)
Locations
  • Journal of Psychosomatic Research (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
Topics
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Psychiatry and Mental health › Psychosomatic Disorders and Their Treatments
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Experimental and Cognitive Psychology › Cognitive Functions and Memory
  • Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cognitive Neuroscience › Memory Processes and Influences
Keywords
memory impairment, metamemory, memory self-efficacy, perceived stress, depression, psychosomatic symptoms, cognitive speed, neuropsychological performance
MeSH terms
Affect, Aged, Cognition, Depression, Germany, Humans, Memory Disorders, Middle Aged, Neuropsychological Tests, Outpatients, Surveys and Questionnaires, Stress, Psychological, Verbal Learning, Case-Control Studies

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