title: Differential effects of Ecstasy and cannabis on self-reports of memory ability: a web-based study.
abstract: Given the legal status of MDMA (3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine), or Ecstasy, face-to-face access to participants is sometimes difficult. The number of participants in studies of cognitive performance amongst Ecstasy users is variable, with the average being around 30. Access to a larger number of participants is clearly desirable. The present investigation accessed a larger sample size using a web-based design. A website was developed and used for data collection. Prospective memory ability was assessed using the Prospective Memory Questionnaire. Self-report of day-to-day memory performance was investigated using the Everyday Memory Questionnaire. The Drug Questionnaire assessed the use of other substances as well as Ecstasy, allowing a regression design to isolate the contribution of each substance to any variance on the cognitive measures. Preliminary findings (N = 488) indicate that there is a clear double dissociation between the impact of Ecstasy and cannabis. We found that cannabis was associated with reports of 'here-and-now' cognitive problems in short-term and internally cued prospective memory. In contrast, Ecstasy was associated with reports of long-term memory problems, which were more related to storage and retrieval difficulties. Copyright 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
authors.affiliation: Doctorate in Clinical Psychology, University of Newcastle, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK.
authors.forename: J.
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Rodgers
authors.forename: T.
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Buchanan
authors.forename: A. B.
authors.initials: AB
authors.lastname: Scholey
authors.forename: T. M.
authors.initials: TM
authors.lastname: Heffernan
authors.forename: J.
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Ling
authors.forename: A.
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Parrott