The Role of Autobiographical Memory in Substance Use Disorders: A Systematic Review of Current Evidence

Background and Aims: Research has highlighted impaired autobiographical memory (AM) in patients with substance-use-disorder (SUD). Although this impacts on the maintenance of the disorder, no systematic review has highlighted the characteristics of AM in SUDs. The present review aims to evaluate studies that have examined AM in patients with SUDs, providing insights into the nature of these impairments and their implications for therapeutic interventions.Methods: A comprehensive search of PubMed, Scopus, ScienceDirect and WebOfScience databases was conducted to identify relevant articles. Of the 14039 studies found, 9737 were not duplicated. After screening, 12 articles were included.Results: Patients diagnosed with alcohol dependence showed fewer specific memories, fewer memories related to self-awareness, more generic memories, and more alcohol-related memories than control subjects. They showed more recent memories related to negative stimuli, fewer positive emotional responses, more negative and neutral memories. These patients also showed more older memories and fewer memories related to recreation and achievement. Patients diagnosed with opioid-use showed fewer integrated memories, more neutral memories, and more relationship-related memories than control subjects. Patients with multiple-substance-use had fewer specific memories. Overall, the studies indicate a significant impairment in AM, characterized by a predominance of overgeneral memories and a lack of specific and detailed recollections.Conclusions: Enhancing AM retrieval can promote a linear temporality, which is essential for the development of self-awareness and narrative identity. The use of innovative technologies, such as AI platforms and avatars, may provide effective therapeutic strategies to facilitate AM retrieval. These findings suggest the need for new strategies that can promote the recall of AMs in SUDs. By improving the ability to access specific, meaningful memories, these interventions can significantly enhance self-awareness and narrative identity, offering a promising avenue for the treatment of SUDs.