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ObjectiveThis study assessed both executive function (EF) and prospective memory (PM) in a group of current smokers (CS) to observe whether deficits in both sets of memory processes co-existed in smokers, comparing this group with a group who had never smoked (NS).MethodAn existing-groups design was used to compare smokers with the NS group on a Reserve Digit Span Task (RDST) that measured EF and the Cambridge Prospective Memory Test (CAMPROMPT) measuring PM. Age, mood, other drug use and IQ were also measured and controlled for in the study.ResultsAfter omitting anyone using an illegal substance and observing no between-group differences in age, gender, anxiety, depression, alcohol use and IQ, the CS group performed significantly worse on the RDST and recalled significantly fewer time-based and event-based tasks on CAMPROMPT, compared with the NS group.ConclusionsBoth EF and PM deficits were evident in the same cohort of CS when compared with a NS group, a finding which is novel in the current literature. Since both EF and PM are interrelated in that they share common resources in the brain, the finding that both sets of deficits co-existed in smokers suggests that persistent cigarette smoking impedes these underlying resources.

ObjectiveThis study assessed self-reported and objective prospective memory (PM) processes in smokers and a never-smoked comparison group. If persistent smoking does impair PM, then one would expect smokers recall being lower on a study that requires them to remember everyday activities when compared with a never-smoked group.MethodAn existing-groups design was used to compare a group of smokers with a never-smoked group on the self-report Prospective Memory Questionnaire (PMQ) and the Prospective Remembering Video Procedure (PRVP) measuring objective PM. An example of the location–action combination from the PRVP is ‘At Thornton's shop’ (location), ‘Buy a bag of sweets’ (action). Participants who reported using an illegal substance (e.g. ecstasy, cannabis), who drank excessively or were ‘binge drinkers’, or who reported suffering from a clinical condition, such as depression, were excluded from the study. Age, weekly ‘safe levels’ alcohol use, and strategy use were also measured and controlled for in the study. Each person was tested individually in a quiet laboratory setting on a university campus.ResultsAfter controlling for variations in age, weekly alcohol use, and strategy use, smokers recalled significantly fewer location–action combinations on the PRVP when compared with a never-smoked group, with no between-group differences on self-reported PM as measured by the PMQ.ConclusionsThe findings suggest objective PM deficits are associated with persistent smoking – a relatively unexplored area of research. This cannot be attributed to other drug use, mood, or strategy use. The findings also suggest smokers lack self-awareness of such PM deficits. This study extends the area by utilising a more naturalistic object measure of PM and incorporating strict controls into the study.

Objectives: To investigate everyday memory processes in teenagers who drink excessive amounts of alcohol (drinking above the 14/21 units-per-week recommended for females/males respectively), compared with low-dose controls. To consider what implications putative deficits might have upon prevention and potential treatment issue relating to alcohol misuse in teenagers. Design: Existing groups. Setting: Testing took place in quiet rooms in colleges in North-East of England. Participants: 86 teenagers studying at colleges in the North-East of England were tested, 55 of whom were excessive drinkers and 31 drank below the 'safe limits'. Main Outcome Measures: Self-report measures; Prospective Memory Questionnaire and UEL Drug-Use Questionnaire. Results: After controlling for tobacco and strategy use (no other between-group differences were found on the non-memory measures), the excessive alcohol group reported more lapses in memory in their long-term and short-term everyday prospective memory functioning, than the low-dose control group. Conclusions: The findings suggest that teenagers who use excessive amounts of alcohol have selective deficits in their ability to engage in day-to-day activities that rely on memory. Identifying such deficits may help in prevention campaigns and the development of strategies to combat these difficulties may be a useful addition to the knowledge and skills in nurse training.

Objectives: To investigate everyday memory and related processes in patients with eating disorders and to consider how problems with these processes may impact upon their psychosocial functioning and ability to engage in cognitively demanding aspects of treatment programmes. Design: Two case-control studies. Setting: Regional Eating Disorders Service in the North East of England. Participants: Patients with Anorexia Nervosa (AN), Bulimia Nervosa (BN) and Eating Disorder Not Otherwise Specified (EDNOS) [DSM-IV, 1994] attending an Eating Disorder Unit, and healthy volunteers. Main Outcome Measures: Self-report and objective measures of everyday memory and related processes; self-report and objective measures relating to state of illness; self-report measures of attendant anxiety and depression. Results: Patients were found to be impaired on all measures of memory and related processes. Degree of impairment correlated variously with state of illness measures and depression/anxiety measures. Conclusions: These data suggest that patients with eating disorders are impaired in their ability to engage in day-to-day and more directed activities that depend upon memory and related processes. Helping patients develop strategies to overcome these difficulties may be a useful nursing addition to existing treatment packages and may improve treatment efficacy.

Background: Research has shown that heavy alcohol use has a detrimental effect on retrospective memory. Less is known about the effect of alcohol on everyday memory.