The Role of Executive Processes in Accounting for Prospective Memory Deficits in Ecstasy/Polydrug Users

Abstract

In order to investigate the role of executive processes in accounting for prospective memory deficits in ecstasy/polydrug users a sample of seventy three ecstasy/polydrug users and sixty seven polydrug/non-ecstasy users (control group) were assessed on executive functions and prospective memory measures. The self-report measure of executive function, the BRIEF-A was used to capture any possible behavioral manifestations of executive function in ecstasy/polydrug users in comparison to the control group. Three laboratory measures of prospective memory assessing short-term and long-term time based prospective memory and event based prospective memory were developed and administered. The short-term time based prospective memory task required the participants to ask for a questionnaire (measuring their level of fatigue) every 20 minutes throughout their test session. The percentage of occasions that the participant remembered to ask for the questionnaire was calculated for the first and the second half of the test session as well as the overall percentage. In the long term time based prospective memory test (PM element) participants were asked to post a delayed recall test in a prepaid envelope one, two, and three weeks after the test session. Finally, in the event based prospective memory test participants had to indicate whether two patterns appearing on the computer screen were different or the same, while at the same time remembering to press the F1 key at the end of each test segment in order to record their scores.