Publication Abstract Display
Type: Published Abstract
Title: Prospective memory deficits are associated with unemployment in persons living with HIV infection.
Authors: Woods SP, Weber E, Weisz B, Grant I, and the HNRC Group
Year: 2011
Publication: International Neuropsychological Society 39th Annual Meeting, Boston, Mass
Volume: Issue: Pages:
Abstract:Unemployment rates are high among individuals infected with HIV, particularly among persons with advanced disease, psychiatric comorbidities, and HIV-associated neurocognitive disorders. HIV infection is also associated with mild-to-moderate deficits in prospective memory, which are independently predictive of poorer everyday functioning outcomes, such as medication non-adherence. This study extends that literature by examining the hypothesis that HIV-associated prospective memory deficits confer an increased risk of unemployment. Participants included 108 HIV-infected individuals aged 25-60 years who underwent comprehensive psychiatric, medical, neurocognitive research evaluations, including the Memory for Intentions Screening Test. Participants who reported currently working full-time were classified as Employed (n=49) and were demographically matched to a sample of Unemployed (n=59) subjects. The Unemployed participants demonstrated significantly lower performance on scales of time- and event-based prospective memory (ps<.05), which was characterized by higher rates of omission errors (p<.05). There were no between-group differences in other error types (e.g., commission), the ongoing task, or the post-test recognition trial (ps>.10). Importantly, prospective memory impairment was an independent predictor of Unemployment in a series of logistic regression models that included measures of retrospective memory and executive functions, mood disturbance, and HIV disease severity (e.g., AIDS diagnosis). These findings suggest that prospective memory impairment may be a risk factor for unemployment in persons living with HIV and therefore might be of value in developing vocational rehabilitation plans.

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