Metamemory in recreational ecstasy polydrug users: what do self-reports of memory failures mean?
Previous research has found relationships between self-rated memory and ecstasy use, such that heavier users report worse function. These findings have been interpreted in terms of objective memory capacity. However, research on metamemory suggests that self-reported memory may be only weakly related to objective function, with demographics, mood, and memory-related beliefs and feelings also contributing to ratings. This study examined relationships between ecstasy/other drug use and self-reported memory, controlling for effects of demographic factors and mood. Associations between self-reported memory, memory-related beliefs and feelings, and objectively-measured cognitive function were also examined. Forty-five ecstasy polydrug, 48 cannabis polydrug, and 40 legal drug users completed a battery of neuropsychological tests and questionnaire measures of metamemory, including memory-related control beliefs, memory-related anxiety, and self-reported prospective and general/retrospective memory. The combined polydrug groups reported more general/retrospective memory failures. Covariance analysis, however, suggested that this finding was confounded by general anxiety levels. A combination of objective cognitive measures contributed to prediction of self-rated prospective memory, with demographics, mood, and memory-related anxiety also contributing to variability. However, associations between objective and self-reported memory were not strong. Self-report may not be a specific methodology with which to assess objective memory capacities in ecstasy and other drug users.
Bedi
G
G
School of Psychology, Psychiatry and Psychological Medicine, Monash University, Melbourne, Australia. gbedi@bsd.uchicago.edu
Redman
J
J
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D003071:Cognition / Q000187:drug effects; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008569:Memory Disorders / Q000139:chemically induced*; D018817:N-Methyl-3,4-methylenedioxyamphetamine / Q000633:toxicity*; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000523:psychology*
D018817:N-Methyl-3,4-methylenedioxyamphetamine