Self-rated prospective memory and central executive deficits in excessive alcohol users

Heffernan, Tom, Ling, Jonathan and Bartholomew, Janice (2004) Self-rated prospective memory and central executive deficits in excessive alcohol users. Irish Journal of Psychological Medicine, 21 (4). pp. 122-124. ISSN 0790-9667

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Abstract

Objectives: This study assessed self-reported prospective memory and related central executive processes in a group of excessive alcohol users and non-users. The aim was to assess whether excessive alcohol use is associated with impairments in these two sets of memory processes. Methods: Eighty participants from the North-East of England were tested. Of these, 40 were excessive alcohol users (using above the recommended weekly 'safe' dose of alcohol) and 40 were low-dose/non-users. Each participant was assessed using self-reports of prospective memory (PM) - measured using the Prospective Memory Questionnaire (PMQ) and central executive (CE) processes - measured using the Dysexecutive Questionnaire (DEX). Other drug use, age and strategy use were incorporated into the study as controls. Results: After controlling for other drug use, age, and strategy use, excessive alcohol users reported global impairments in everyday prospective memory and in their central executive processes, when compared to a low-dose/no-alcohol control group. Conclusions: These findings suggest that excessive alcohol use has a detrimental impact upon everyday memory - a relatively unexplored area of research. PM and CE deficits should be added to the growing list of neuropsychological sequelae associated with chronic excessive alcohol use.

Item Type:	Article
Uncontrolled Keywords:	alcohol, central executive, DEX, memory impairment, PMQ, prospective memory
Subjects:	C800 Psychology
Department:	Faculties > Health and Life Sciences > Psychology
Depositing User:	Becky Skoyles
Date Deposited:	03 Feb 2015 16:51
Last Modified:	12 Oct 2019 16:27
URI:	http://nrl.northumbria.ac.uk/id/eprint/19639

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