The role of prospective memory in medication adherence: a review of an emerging literature.

Although neurocognitive impairment is an established risk factor for medication nonadherence, standard neurocognitive tests developed for clinical purposes may not fully capture the complexities of non-adherence behavior or effectively inform theory-driven interventions. Prospective memory, an innovative cognitive construct describing one's ability to remember to do something at a later time, is an understudied factor in the detection and remediation of medication non-adherence. This review orients researchers to the construct of prospective memory, summarizes empirical evidence for prospective memory as a risk factor for non-adherence, discusses the relative merits of current measurement techniques, and highlights potential prospective memory-focused intervention strategies.

Are time- and event-based prospective memory comparably affected in HIV infection?

According to the multi-process theory of prospective memory (ProM), 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 HIV-infected individuals to demonstrate greater deficits in time-based versus event-based ProM. However, the two prior studies examining this question have produced variable results.

HIV-associated prospective memory impairment in the laboratory predicts failures on a semi-naturalistic measure of health care compliance.

HIV-associated neurocognitive impairment, particularly in the domain of prospective memory (ProM), increases the risk of poor everyday functioning outcomes, including medication non-adherence. However, whether ProM plays a role in health care compliance outside of the realm of medication adherence remains to be determined. This study evaluated the hypothesis that ProM is an independent predictor of failure to comply with non-medication-related instructions akin to those commonly given by health care providers.

Using social networks to recruit an HIV vaccine preparedness cohort.

Objectives: To evaluate a social network approach to develop an adolescent cohort for HIV vaccine preparedness and investigate characteristics that influence recruitment.

Methods: We summarize baseline data from a prospective cohort study that included 4 sessions over 6 months. Fifty-nine HIV-infected adolescent and adult patients of a family-based HIV clinic named significant others and indicated willingness to involve them in this study.

Spontaneous cognition and HIV risk behavior.

Theories of cognitive processes and risk behavior have not usually addressed spontaneous forms of cognition that may co-occur with, or possibly influence, behavior. This study evaluated whether measures of spontaneous cognition independently predict HIV risk behavior tendencies. Whereas a trait-centered theory suggests that spontaneous cognitions are a by-product of personality, a cognitive view hypothesizes that spontaneous cognitions should predict behavior independently of personality.

Exposure to televised alcohol ads and subsequent adolescent alcohol use.

Objective: To assess the impact of televised alcohol commercials on adolescents' alcohol use.

Methods: Adolescents completed questionnaires about alcohol commercials and alcohol use in a prospective study.

Results: A one standard deviation increase in viewing television programs containing alcohol commercials in seventh grade was associated with an excess risk of beer use (44%), wine/liquor use (34%), and 3-drink episodes (26%) in eighth grade.

Self-generated alcohol outcomes in 8th and 10th graders: exposure to vicarious sources of alcohol information.

The perceived positive and negative outcomes of alcohol use were studied in a sample of normal 8th and 10th grade students. Participants' responses provided associative frequency norms valuable for future research. Regression analyses showed (1) none of the individual-difference variables (alcohol use, exposure to vicarious sources of alcohol information, such as televised advertising, and demographics) predicted self-generated responses, and (2) alcohol use and first-hand observation of others' drinking did predict the valence respondents assigned to the outcomes.