| Publication Abstract Display | | Type: Published Abstract | | Title: HIV infection is associated with comparable deficits in time- and event-based prospective memory. | | Authors: Woods SP, Weber E, Cameron M, Dawson M, Grant I, and the HNRC Group | | Year: 2010 | | Publication: National Academy of NeuroPsychology | | Volume: Issue: Pages: | | Abstract:Objective: According to McDaniel & Einstein’s (2000) multi-process theory of prospective memory (ProM; i.e., “remembering to remember”), time-based tasks rely more heavily on strategic processes dependent on prefrontal systems than do event-based tasks. Given the prominent frontostriatal pathophysiology of HIV infection, one would expect that HIV-infected individuals would demonstrate greater deficits in time-versus event-based ProM, but the two prior studies that have examined this question produced variable results, perhaps due to small sample sizes and measurement differences. Method: Participants included 143 individuals with HIV infection and 43 demographically similar seronegative adults (HIV-) completed a comprehensive neurocognitive, psychiatric, and medical evaluation. Individuals with severe psychiatric illness, neurological disease, or current substance dependence were excluded. All participants also completed the Memory for Intentions Screening Test (MIST), which yields psychometrically parallel subscales of time- and event-based ProM. Results: A repeated-measures ANOVA revealed main effects of HIV serostatus (p=.016) and cue type (p<.001), but no interaction between serostatus and cue (p=.861). Planned pair-wise comparisons showed a significant HIV effect on time-based ProM (p=.016, Cohen’s d=.48) and a trend-level effect on event-based ProM (p=.074, Cohen’s d=.36). Conclusions: Findings from this study suggest that HIV infection is not associated with a disproportionate effect on time- versus event-based ProM. Whether such comparable deficits reflect a common dysregulation of strategic monitoring and retrieval processes or separate underlying mechanisms remains to be determined. In addition to their theoretical value, such investigations are of clinical importance because HIV-associated ProM deficits are strongly linked to everyday functioning outcomes, such as medication non-adherence. |
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