Performance of Smokers with DSM-5 Tobacco Use Disorder in Time-Based Complex Prospective Memory

Abstract

Studies that investigate time-based complex prospective memory (PM) functioning in participants with substance use disorders (SUD) in consideration of different PM-phases (planning, retention, initiation, execution) are lacking. This study was designed to investigate performance of young adults with DSM-5 tobacco use disorder (TUD) and healthy controls (HC) in different phases of complex PM. Community participants aged 18–35 (N = 43) completed the modified Six Elements Test that includes the PM-phases planning, retention, initiation, and execution of a time-based complex PM-task (with delay phases and background activities). TUD participants were current daily smokers and fulfilled at least two DSM-5 TUD criteria. TUD did not differ significantly from HC in task planning errors and timely task initiation. No group differences showed in rule adherence and completeness during task conduction (execution). During execution, TUD showed significantly more deviations (Coef. 0.45; p = 0.005) from their originally remembered plans than HC. Young adults with relatively mild TUD do not show general impairments in all phases of short-term, complex, and time-based PM. Future research may investigate whether a greater risk of deviation from originally remembered plans in TUD could play a role in the progression and cessation of smoking behavior.

Keywords:

• dependence
• nicotine
• prospective memory
• smoking
• substance use disorder

Notes

1. Because of an error in inclusion (the participant was older than 35 years).

2. Certificate for university (or comparable educational institution) entry.

3. For initiation, we also created a dichotomous variable with timely initiation defined as initiation within the first 10 seconds before or after the correct time point of initiation and untimely initiation defined as initiation outside this time-frame.

4. One participant gave inconclusive information in planning and plan retention. This participant was excluded from all analyses on planning, plan retention, and on deviations from the original and retained plan during execution.

Additional information

Funding

This study received financial support by the Chair of Addiction Research and the Department of Psychology at Technische Universitaet Dresden, Germany.