Prospective memory impairment in abstinent MDMA ("Ecstasy") users
Konstantine K. Zakzanis, Donald A. Young, Zachariah Campbell
Cognitive Neuropsychiatry 2003 DOI: 10.1080/13546800244000283 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Observational cohort Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 32 |
| Population | Abstinent MDMA users and matched normal controls |
| Topics | MDMA |
| Keywords | Prospective memory Episodic memory Cognitive psychology Retrospective memory Neuropsychology Wechsler memory scale Developmental psychology Audiology Recall Cognition |
| Citations | 22 |
| Key findings | MDMA users showed impaired episodic prospective memory compared to controls, with deficits related to frequency and total number of MDMA uses. |
Abstract
Introduction: Quantitative evidence has begun to emerge where human studies suggest that repeated recreational use of +/- 3,4-methylenedioxy-methamphetamine (MDMA or "Ecstasy") produces lasting impairments in explicit memory. The purpose of this investigation was to further explore the nature and pattern of component memory processes in abstinent MDMA users.
Methods: Accordingly, 15 MDMA users and 17 matched normal controls completed a brief neuropsychological test battery composed mainly of the Rivermead Behavioural Memory Test (RBMT), a Stem-Completion task, and the Vocabulary subtest of the Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale-III (WAIS-III).
Results: MDMA users were found impaired in terms of episodic prospective memory, as medium to large effects were observed between groups on time-based Appointment and event-based Message subtests of the RBMT. The results of this study also indicate that the ability to recall a future appointment may be related to the frequency of MDMA use and the absolute number of times MDMA was used.
Conclusion: Further research is warranted into the underlying neurological manifestations of such deficits, such as investigating the relation between the neurotransmitter serotonin and the component processes of memory.