Exploring healthcare workers' experiences of a simple intervention to reduce their intrusive memories of psychological trauma: an interpretative phenomenological analysis.

ABSTRACTBackground: Many healthcare workers (HCWs) endured psychologically traumatic events at work during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. For some, these events are re-experienced as unwanted, recurrent, and distressing intrusive memories. Simple psychological support measures are needed to reduce such symptoms of post-traumatic stress in this population. A novel intervention to target intrusive memories, called an imagery-competing task intervention (ICTI), has been developed from the laboratory. The intervention includes a brief memory reminder cue, then a visuospatial task (Tetris® gameplay using mental rotation instructions for approximately 20 min) thought to interfere with the traumatic memory image and reduce its intrusiveness. The intervention has been adapted and evaluated in a randomized controlled trial (RCT) with Swedish HCWs (ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT04460014).Objective: We aimed to explore how HCWs who worked during the COVID-19 pandemic experienced the use of a brief intervention to reduce their intrusive memories of work-related trauma.Method: Interpretative phenomenological analysis was used for in-depth understanding of the lived experiences of HCWs who used the intervention. Seven participants from the RCT were interviewed by an independent researcher without prior knowledge of the intervention. Interviews were conducted via telephone and transcribed verbatim.Results: Four general themes were generated: 'Triggers and troublesome images', 'Five Ws regarding support - what, when, why, by/with who, for whom', 'Receiving it, believing it, and doing it' and 'The intervention - a different kind of help'; the last two included two subthemes each. The results reflect participants' similarities and differences in their lived experiences of intrusive memories, support measures, and intervention impressions and effects.Conclusion: HCWs' experiences of the novel ICTI reflect a promising appraisal of the intervention as a potential help measure for reducing intrusive memories after trauma, and gives us a detailed understanding of HCWs' needs, with suggestions for its adaption for future implementation.Trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT04460014.

Many healthcare workers experience images or 'flashbacks' of traumatic experiences from their work during the COVID-19 pandemic.To ensure that individual needs are met, there is a need to tailor and refine current psychological support measures and their use for healthcare workers.The imagery-competing task intervention was perceived as acceptable, indicating its potential utility as a help measure to reduce intrusive memories after trauma.

Effects of oral contraceptives on intrusive memories: a secondary analysis of two studies using the trauma film paradigm in healthy women.

Background: Women are more likely to develop post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) than men. Recent research suggests an impact of oral contraceptive (OC) intake on PTSD and intrusive memories, a hallmark symptom of PTSD. Although a majority of women use OCs at some point in their lives, the effects on PTSD pathogenesis are only poorly understood.Objective: In the current paper, we aimed to investigate the impact of OC intake on the acquisition and consolidation of intrusive memories in healthy women after watching a trauma film paradigm.Methods: We performed a secondary analysis of a pooled dataset (N = 437) of two previously conducted and published studies investigating the effect of oxytocin on the development of intrusive memories.Results: Women taking OCs showed an attenuated decline of intrusive memories over time after having watched the trauma film compared to naturally cycling women (F(2.75, 1167) = 3.79, p = .03, ηp2 = .01).Conclusion: These findings indicate that the intake of OCs is associated with the development of intrusive memories after a trauma film paradigm. This indication emphasizes the need to further investigate the complex impact of OCs and gonadal hormones on fear learning processes and PTSD.

The objective of the current study was to analyze the effect of oral contraceptives on the development of intrusive memories after a trauma film paradigm by conducting a secondary analysis of previously published data.Women taking oral contraceptives show an attenuated decline of intrusive memories after watching a trauma film paradigm compared to naturally cycling women in the luteal phase.Women using oral contraceptives show higher basal saliva cortisol levels.

The role of dissociation-related beliefs about memory in trauma-focused treatment.

OBJECTIVE: Dysfunctional cognitions play a central role in the development of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). However the role of specific dissociation-related beliefs about memory has not been previously investigated. This study aimed to investigate the role of dissociation-related beliefs about memory in trauma-focused treatment. It was hypothesized that patients with the dissociative subtype of PTSD would show higher levels of dissociation-related beliefs, dissociation-related beliefs about memory would decrease after trauma-focused treatment, and higher pre-treatment dissociation-related beliefs would be associated with fewer changes in PTSD symptoms. METHOD: Post-traumatic symptoms, dissociative symptoms, and dissociation-related beliefs about memory were assessed in a sample of patients diagnosed with PTSD (n = 111) or the dissociative subtype of PTSD (n = 61). They underwent intensive trauma-focused treatment consisting of four or eight consecutive treatment days. On each treatment day, patients received 90 min of individual prolonged exposure (PE) in the morning and 90 min of individual eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR) therapy in the afternoon. The relationship between dissociation-related beliefs about memory and the effects of trauma-focused treatment was investigated. RESULTS: Dissociation-related beliefs about memory were significantly associated with PTSD and its dissociative symptoms. In addition, consistent with our hypothesis, patients with the dissociative subtype of PTSD scored significantly higher on dissociation-related beliefs about memory pre-treatment than those without the dissociative subtype. Additionally, the severity of these beliefs decreased significantly after trauma-related treatment. Contrary to our hypothesis, elevated dissociation-related beliefs did not negatively influence treatment outcome. CONCLUSION: The results of the current study suggest that dissociation-related beliefs do not influence the outcome of trauma-focused treatment, and that trauma-focused treatment does not need to be altered specifically for patients experiencing more dissociation-related beliefs about memory because these beliefs decrease in association with treatment.

This study investigated the role of dissociation-related beliefs about memory on trauma-focused treatment.Dissociation-related beliefs were related to post-traumatic and dissociative symptoms, and were especially prominent in patients with the dissociative subtype of post-traumatic stress disorder.Dissociation-related beliefs about memory do not impact the effectiveness of trauma-focused treatment. In fact, trauma-focused treatment effectively decreased these beliefs, suggesting that dissociation-related beliefs about memory should not be a determining factor in withholding patients from receiving trauma-focused therapy.

Modelo contextual de aspectos cognitivos (I) / Contextual model of cognitive aspects (I)

Todo ser vivo, dadas las condiciones que ha de satisfacer para su supervivencia, manifiesta un conjunto de diferentes herramientas cognitivas. Tanto para la comprensión y actuación sobre su entorno externo y su medio interno, como para predecir al menos a corto plazo, cómo estas condiciones pueden afectarlo positiva o negativamente.Estas herramientas han ido especializándose a lo largo del tiempo, pero siguen compartiendo características comunes. Esto nos induce a pensar en la existencia de algún tipo de modelo cognitivo universal, un modelo que podemos observar tanto en la más simple de las bacterias como en el más grande de los cetáceos.Bajo esta perspectiva propongo la estructura y funcionamiento de este modelo cognitivo general, que puede ofrecer una visión alternativa al fenómeno de la cognición y a cómo su forma consciente puede, finalmente, emanar de forma natural a partir de la evolución hacia ámbitos cada vez más abstractos. (AU)

Investigating the frequency of intrusive memories after 24 hours using a visuospatial interference intervention: a follow-up and extension.

Background: There is a need for effective, low-cost, readily available measures for reducing trauma symptoms so that people exposed to potentially traumatic events can receive help more quickly. A previous study reported that performing an intervention including a visuospatial task shortly after a reminder of a series of unpleasant film clips seen 24 hours earlier reduced the number of intrusive memories over the following week. Objective: This study reports a follow-up and extension of the earlier promising finding. The prediction was that participants performing the visuospatial task immediately after the reminder would report fewer intrusions compared to three other groups who 1) performed no task, and novel conditions who 2) performed the task before the reminder, and 3) performed the task 90 minutes after the reminder. Method: A trauma-analogue method was used, where students (N = 200) watched a series of short films with unpleasant material. Over the following week, they were asked to write down any intrusive memories they experienced in a diary. On the second day they returned to the lab and saw static reminders of the films. They were then randomly allocated to condition, recorded intrusive memories over the following days and returned to the lab for final testing on Day 8. Results: A total of 49 participants did not report any intrusions and were excluded from the analyses. Two more participants were excluded as outliers, leaving a final sample of n = 149. Despite using largely the same materials as the original study there were no significant differences in the number of intrusive memories between the four groups post intervention. Conclusions: Possible explanations include the effect not being as robust as expected, a low number of intrusions across groups, baseline differences in attention, and minor but potentially important differences in procedure between this and the original study.

Antecedentes: Existe la necesidad de medidas efectivas de bajo costo y fácilmente disponibles para reducir los síntomas del trauma, de modo que las personas expuestas a eventos potencialmente traumáticos puedan recibir ayuda más rápidamente. James y cols. (2015) reportaron que realizar una intervención que incluye una tarea viso-espacial poco después de un recordatorio consistente en una serie de clips de películas desagradables vistos 24 horas antes, redujo el número de recuerdos intrusivos durante la semana siguiente.Objetivo: Este estudio reporta un seguimiento y extensión del prometedor hallazgo de James y cols. La predicción fue que los participantes que realizaran la tarea viso-espacial inmediatamente después del recordatorio reportarían menos intrusiones en comparación con otros tres grupos que: 1) no realizaron ninguna tarea, y en condiciones novedosas que 2) realizaron la tarea antes del recordatorio y 3) realizaron la tarea 90 minutos después del recordatorio.Método: Se utilizó un método analógico de trauma, donde los estudiantes (N = 200) vieron una serie de cortometrajes con material desagradable. Durante la semana siguiente, se les pidió que escribieran cualquier recuerdo intrusivo que experimentaran en un diario. El segundo día regresaron al laboratorio y vieron recordatorios estáticos de las películas. Luego fueron asignados aleatoriamente a la condición, registraron recuerdos intrusivos durante los días siguientes y regresaron al laboratorio para la prueba final el día 8.Resultados: Un total de 49 participantes no reportó ninguna intrusión y fueron excluidos de los análisis. Se excluyeron dos participantes adicionales como valores atípicos, dejando una muestra final de n = 149. A pesar de utilizar en gran parte los mismos materiales que el estudio original, no hubo diferencias significativas en el número de recuerdos intrusivos entre los cuatro grupos después de la intervención.Conclusiones: Las posibles explicaciones incluyen que el efecto no es tan robusto como se esperaba, un número bajo de intrusiones entre los grupos, diferencias basales de atención y diferencias menores pero potencialmente importantes en el procedimiento entre éste y el estudio original.

Memoria traumática: estrategias de afrontamiento adaptativas e inadaptativas / Traumatic Memories: Adaptive and Maladaptive Coping Strategies

Resumen En este artículo se analiza la relación existente entre los recuerdos traumáticos y las posibles estrategias para hacerles frente. Los recuerdos traumáticos son difíciles de integrar en la biografía de las personas afectadas y pueden interferir de forma significativa en su funcionamiento social, académico y profesional. Se distingue psicopatológicamente entre los recuerdos normales y los recuerdos traumáticos. Asimismo se analizan las estrategias de afrontamiento adaptativas, tales como la evitación cognitiva, la exposición terapéutica a los recuerdos traumáticos o la capacidad de perdón. Pero también hay un afrontamiento inadaptativo (nostalgia, sentimientos de odio y de venganza o conductas autodestructivas) que puede dar cuenta de las dificultades de recuperación en algunos pacientes. Por último, se examinan las estrategias de regulación emocional cognitiva y el papel de la resiliencia y del crecimiento postraumático para afrontar los recuerdos traumáticos. Se comentan las implicaciones de este estudio para investigaciones futuras en esta área.

Abstract In this paper the relationship between traumatic memories and coping skills to deal with them is analyzed. Traumatic memories are difficult to be integrated into the survivor's life story and can significantly interfere with social, educational and occupational functioning. From a psychopathological point of view, a distinction between normal and traumatic memories is made. Adaptive coping skills to deal with traumatic memories, such as cognitive avoidance, therapeutic exposure to traumatic memories or forgiveness, are analyzed. But there is also maladaptive coping, such as nostalgia, hate and revenge feelings or self-destructive behaviors, which should be taken into account to explain the difficulties of recovery in some patients. Finally, the cognitive emotion regulation strategies and the role of resiliency and post-traumatic growth in some patients to cope with traumatic memories are examined. Implications of this study for future research in this field are commented upon.

Elaborando tradições na contemporaneidade: Ausier e a preservação do chorinho / Elaborating traditions in contemporaneity: Ausier and the preservation of chorinho / Elaborando tradiciones en la contemporaneidad: Ausier y la preservación del chorinho

Objetivamos investigar o modo como a tradição é elaborada por um guardião de memórias contemporâneo: Ausier Vinícius dos Santos, fundador do bar musical Pedacinhos do Céu (Belo Horizonte - MG). Realizamos entrevista semiestruturada, analisada fenomenologicamente. Respondendo ao chamado a constituir uma obra de preservação, o sujeito elabora o passado e a alteridade como presenças a partir das quais se dá conta do próprio ser. Aceitar sacrifícios para dedicar-se ao que vem do outro significa para ele ser fiel à própria experiência, abrindo caminho para a atualização da tradição num processo pessoal de buscar contribuir para a constituição do mundo. Concluímos que para dar continuidade de modo próprio ao que lhe foi transmitido, Ausier reafirma a centralidade dos valores que convergem num ideal que a tradição suscita em si. Dando-se conta de que seu ideal lhe foi dado e o supera, vive sua obra como gratidão e doação de si a algo que lhe dá um lugar no mundo e realiza o próprio ser.

We aim to investigate how the tradition is elaborated by a contemporary guardian of memories: Ausier dos Santos, founder of the musical bar Pedacinhos do Céu (Belo Horizonte - MG). We conducted a semi-structured interview, analyzed phenomenologically. Responding to the call to constitute a work of preservation, he elaborates the past and otherness as presences from what he realizes his own being. Accepting sacrifices to dedicate oneself to what comes from another means that he is faithful to his own experience, opening the way for the update of the tradition in a personal process of seeking to contribute to the constitution of the world. We conclude that to give continuity in his own way what has been transmitted to him, Ausier reaffirms the centrality of the values that converge in an ideal that tradition provokes in itself. Realizing that his ideal was given to him and overcomes himself, he lives his work as gratitude and given himself to something that gives a place in the world and realizes his own self.

Objetivamos investigar cómo la tradición es elaborada por un guardián de memorias contemporáneo: Ausier dos Santos, fundador del bar musical Pedacinhos do Céu (Belo Horizonte - MG). Realizamos una entrevista semiestructurada, analizada fenomenológicamente. Respondiendo al llamado a constituir una obra de preservación, el sujeto elabora el pasado y la alteridad como presencias a partir de las cuales se da cuenta del propio ser. Aceptar sacrificios para dedicarse a lo que viene del otro significa para él ser fiel a la propia experiencia, de modo que la tradición se actualiza en un proceso personal de buscar contribuir a la constitución del mundo. Concluimos que para dar continuidad de modo propio lo que le fue transmitido, Ausier reafirma la centralidad de los valores que convergen en un ideal que la tradición suscita en sí. Dándose cuenta de que su ideal le fue dado y lo supera, vive su obra como gratitud y donación de sí a algo que le da un lugar en el mundo y realiza el propio ser.

El pensamiento pre-consciente en los estudios clínicos del trabajo / Pre-conscious thinking in clinical studies of work

Este texto se propone dar cuenta del análisis realizado acerca del tipo de pensamiento que se manifiesta en los relatos solicitados a los sujetos de una investigación en curso. La misma explora la manera en que los integrantes de un colectivo profesional docente han ido elaborando, a lo largo de su trayectoria vital, su actual posición de autoridad pedagógica. Dicho estudio se apoya en la epistemología de la complejidad, lo que autoriza la elaboración de un marco teórico también complejo, integrado por corrientes psicosociológicas clínicas que encuentran en el Psicoanálisis un referente común. Es desde ese marco teórico-epistemológico, y en función de nuestro material empírico, que abordaremos inicialmente las postulaciones freudianas acerca de cómo se expresa el pensamiento en la evocación de los recuerdos. Luego nos referiremos, siguiendo los planteos de las Clínicas del Trabajo, a la relación pensamiento/afecto; para finalmente analizar el pensamiento comprometido en el acto humano, tal como ha sido investigado por el Sociopsicoanálisis. (AU)

This text aims to account for the analysis made about the type of thinking that manifests itself in the stories requested from the subjects of an ongoing investigation. It explores the way in which the members of a professional teaching group have been developing, throughout their life trajectory, their current position of pedagogical authority. This study is based on the epistemology of complexity, which authorizes the elaboration of a complex theoretical framework, integrated by clinical psychosociological currents that find in Psychoanalysis a common reference. It is from this theoretical-epistemological framework, and based on our empirical material, that we will initially address the Freudian postulations about how thought is expressed in the evocation of memories. Then we will refer, following the approaches of the Clinics of Work, to the relationship thought / affection; to finally analyze the thought committed in the human act, as it has been investigated by Sociopsychoanalysis. (AU)

ASSESSING ANGELS IN THE NURSERY: A PILOT STUDY OF CHILDHOOD MEMORIES OF BENEVOLENT CAREGIVING AS PROTECTIVE INFLUENCES.

This pilot study provides the first empirical test of the concept of "Angels in the Nursery" by examining whether childhood memories of benevolent caregiving experiences protect against heightened levels of psychopathology in high-risk mothers. The study hypothesized that (a) elaborated childhood memories of feeling loved by a caregiver ("angel memories") would moderate adulthood posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms in mothers with childhood maltreatment histories, and (b) spontaneous traumatic intrusions ("ghost memories") would mediate childhood maltreatment and adulthood PTSD symptoms. Participants were 54 mothers (M = 32.79 years, SD = 8.91; 59.2% African American, 13.0% Caucasian, 5.6% Latina, 22.2% biracial/multiracial) who completed standardized assessments of childhood maltreatment and adulthood PTSD symptoms, and a novel instrument, the Angels in the Nursery Interview ("Angels Interview," Van Horn, Lieberman, & Harris, 2008). Results showed that angel memories significantly moderated childhood maltreatment and adulthood PTSD symptoms, consistent with a protective effect. Higher levels of ghost memories during the Angels Interview were significantly associated with more extensive childhood maltreatment, but did not mediate maltreatment and PTSD symptoms. Findings indicate that the Angels Interview can identify pathogenic intrusions rooted in childhood maltreatment and protective factors to promote maternal mental health and buffer the intergenerational transmission of trauma.

Memórias sociais e a construção da identidade em territórios negros / Social memories and identity construction in black territories / Recuerdos sociales y construcción de la identidad en territorios negros

Este artigo reflete um debate sobre a relação entre territórios negros, práticas religiosas, construção da identidade da população negra e como as memórias e representações sociais têm influência nesse processo. As práticas religiosas de matriz africana estão diretamente relacionadas com os referenciais identitários da população afrodescendente. Sabemos que essas práticas são um grande e importante legado deixado pelos africanos no Brasil para seus descendentes, no entanto as memórias dessas práticas estão sendo marcadas pelo esquecimento e as representações sociais ancoradas com práticas demoníacas relacionadas ao mal. Isso faz com que os praticantes não queiram se identificar com essas manifestações e procurem um distanciamento, enquanto os não praticantes os veem como pessoas que praticam ações que causam prejuízos. O resultado são atitudes de intolerância e discriminação

This article exposes a debate about the relationship between black territories, religious practices, identity construction of the black population and how memories and representations have influence in this process. The religious practices of African origin are directly related to the identity references of people of African descent. We know that these practices are a large and important legacy of Africans in Brazil for their offspring. However, the memories of these practices are being marked by forgetfulness and social representations anchored to demonic practices related to evil. This makes the practitioners no longer wish to be identify with these demonstrations and seek a distance themselves, while non practitioners see them as people who practice actions that cause harm. The results are attitudes of intolerance and discrimination

Este artículo refleja un debate sobre la relación entre los territorios negros, las prácticas religiosas, la construcción de la identidad de la población negra y como los recuerdos y representaciones influyen en este proceso. Las prácticas religiosas de origen africano están directamente relacionadas con las referencias de identidad de las personas de ascendencia africana. Sabemos que estas prácticas son un legado grande e importante de los africanos en Brasil para sus descendientes, sin embargo, los recuerdos de estas prácticas están siendo marcados por representaciones sociales basadas en prácticas demoníacas relacionadas con el mal. Esto hace que los practicantes no quieran identificarse con estas manifestaciones y busquen un distanciamiento, mientras que los no practicantes los ven como personas que practican acciones que causan daño. El resultado son actitudes de intolerancia y discriminación

Esquecimentos, fantasias e sexualidade infantil: efeitos da autoanálise de Freud / Forgetfulness, fantasies and child sexuality: effects of Freud's self-analysis / El olvido, las fantasías y la sexualidad infantil: efectos del autoanálisis de Freud

Durante seu período de autoanálise, normalmente situado pelos estudiosos de sua obra entre os anos de 1897 e 1900, Freud descobriu, através da investigação de seus próprios sonhos e de suas lembranças infantis, os traços fundamentais de nosso inconsciente. Nesse artigo, nos propomos a desdobrar, através dos textos desse período, o processo e o contexto de descoberta que o levou a propor, dentre outros, o esquecimento, a fantasia e a sexualidade infantil como elementos estruturantes para o funcionamento do aparelho psíquico. (AU)

During his self-analysis period, usually located by the researchers of his work between the years 1897 and 1900, Freud discovered through the research of his own dreams and his childhood memories the fundamental features of our unconscious. In this article, we propose to investigate, through the texts of this period, the process and the context of discovery that led Freud to propose forgetting, fantasies and child sexuality as structural elements for the functioning of the psychic apparatus. (AU)

Durante su período de autoanálisis, que normalmente los estudiosos de su obra ubican entre los años 1897 y 1900, Freud descubrió las características fundamentales de nuestro inconsciente a través de la investigación de sus propios sueños y recuerdos de la infancia. En este artículo, proponemos a desarrollar, a través de los textos de la época, el proceso y el contexto de descubrimiento que le llevó a proponer, entre otros, el olvido, las fantasías y la sexualidad infantil como elementos estructurales para el funcionamiento del aparato psíquico. (AU)

Esquecimentos, fantasias e sexualidade infantil: efeitos da autoanálise de Freud / Forgetfulness, fantasies and child sexuality: effects of Freud's self-analysis / El olvido, las fantasías y la sexualidad infantil: efectos del autoanálisis de Freud

Durante seu período de autoanálise, normalmente situado pelos estudiosos de sua obra entre os anos de 1897 e 1900, Freud descobriu, através da investigação de seus próprios sonhos e de suas lembranças infantis, os traços fundamentais de nosso inconsciente. Nesse artigo, nos propomos a desdobrar, através dos textos desse período, o processo e o contexto de descoberta que o levou a propor, dentre outros, o esquecimento, a fantasia e a sexualidade infantil como elementos estruturantes para o funcionamento do aparelho psíquico...

During his self-analysis period, usually located by the researchers of his work between the years 1897 and 1900, Freud discovered through the research of his own dreams and his childhood memories the fundamental features of our unconscious. In this article, we propose to investigate, through the texts of this period, the process and the context of discovery that led Freud to propose forgetting, fantasies and child sexuality as structural elements for the functioning of the psychic apparatus...

Durante su período de autoanálisis, que normalmente los estudiosos de su obra ubican entre los años 1897 y 1900, Freud descubrió las características fundamentales de nuestro inconsciente a través de la investigación de sus propios sueños y recuerdos de la infancia. En este artículo, proponemos a desarrollar, a través de los textos de la época, el proceso y el contexto de descubrimiento que le llevó a proponer, entre otros, el olvido, las fantasías y la sexualidad infantil como elementos estructurales para el funcionamiento del aparato psíquico...

Pobres / Poor

La medicina es una riquísima experiencia de vida. Relaciona a personas plenas de incertidumbres temor, dolor, en trances difíciles y a veces, mortales. Recuerdos y vivencias cotidianas enseñan, duelen, obligan a recapacitar. Un pediatra salteño, docente de buena pluma comparte recuerdos. Dice: "Pedro Martínez no se llama así. Existió en una historia similar a la que cuento y participé de ella. Casi treinta años después, me sigue acompañando y reaparece cada vez que corro el riesgo de olvidarme que no todos la pasamos bien en el mundo…".Su blog www.baleromedico.wordpress.com ofrece muchas otras acuarelas plenas de visiones tiernas que en su conjunto rememoran al "Corazón"de Edmundo De Amicis (Italia, 1846-1908).

Adquisición de los recuerdos autobiográficos: interacciones con el desarrollo del lenguaje y la teoría de la mente entre los 3 y los 4 años y 11 meses de edad / Acquisition of autobiographical memories: interaction With language development and theory of mind between 3 and 4 years and 11 months of age

Los recuerdos autobiográficos hacen alusión a aquellos recuerdos que constituyen nuestra esencia personal, en tanto nos permiten viajar mentalmente al pasado (Ruiz, 2004) y recrear los eventos vividos anteriormente. Es decir, este tipo de recuerdos, nos permite mantener una secuencia temporal y, finalmente, una identidad. Sin embargo, su aparición, como proceso cognitivo, suele ser bastante tardío, pues sólo hacia los 4 años de edad empezamos a dar cuenta de algunos eventos vividos anteriormente. De esta manera, diversos procesos cognitivos se desarrollan con anterioridad en el proceso evolutivo. Sin embargo, fue el interés de esta investigación indagar, específicamente, por la participación que tienen el desarrollo del lenguaje y la Teoría de la mente en los progresos alcanzados en la adquisición de los recuerdos autobiográficos a lo largo del tercer y el cuarto año de vida. Para tal fin, se realizó un estudio de tipo descriptivo-correlacional, en el cual se evaluaron 80 niños y niñas provenientes de guarderías de la ciudad de Medellín, de estratos socioeconómicos 3 y 4. Se diseñó una tarea para evaluar los recuerdos autobiográficos y se aplicaron pruebas estandarizadas para evaluar ToM y Lenguaje, las cuales se realizaron durante dos sesiones (con espacio de una semana entre las dos). Aunque se encontró una relación estadísticamente significativa entre los recuerdos autobiográficos y la ToM, no se logró establecer a esta última como una fuerte predictora de dicho desarrollo. Ahora bien, a pesar de los planteamientos teór icos de diversos autores, no se encontró relación entre los recuerdos autobiográficos y el lenguaje.

Autobiographical memories allude to those memories that constitute our personal essence, this is so when allowing us to travel mentally back (Ruiz, 2004) and to recreate the events previously experienced. This means, this type of memory allows us to maintain a temporal sequence and, finally, an identity. However, its appearance, as a cognitive process, is usually quite late, because only by age of 4 do we began to realize some events we experienced before. Thus, various cognitive processes develop earlier in the evolutionary process. However, it was the interest of this research, to investigate, specifically, its involvement with the development of language and theory of mind in progress obtained in the acquisition of autobiographical memories along the third and fourth year of life. In order to achieve our goal, a descriptive-correla- tional study was performed, in which 80 children from kindergartens in the city of Medellín, from socioeconomic strata 3 and 4 were tested. A task was designed to assess autobiographical memories and to apply standardized tests to assess ToM and language, which were performed during two sessions (with about a week between the two). Although a statistically significant relationship between autobiographical memories and ToM was found, it was not possible to establish the latter as a strong predictor of such development. However, despite the theoretical approaches of different authors, no relationship between autobiographical memories and language was found.