COCAINE CONSUMPTION EFFECTS ON EPISODIC MEMORY PERFORMANCE

Abstract

Cocaine use has been related to neuropsychological disturbances that allow a wide spectrum of cognitive functions, however, the exhaustive analysis of the functioning of episodic memory is a vacancy area and knowing its in-depth processes would allow planning relevant interventions. Objective: To analyze the functioning of episodic memory in people with a diagnosis of cocaine use disorder. Methodology: Descriptive type design. Occasional sample, made up of 80 people, paired into two groups, clinical and control. To meet the objective The Spain-Complutense Verbal Learning Test was administered. Results: The clinic group presented a lower episodic memory performance than the control group. They achieved lower performances in three indicators of coding processes (spontaneous use of semantic strategies in immediate recall p = .03 and recall with short keys p = .01 and long-term p = .01), and two indicators of recovery processes (use of semantic strategies in short-term free memory p = .00 and long-term p = .00). Conclusions: These results suggested that people with a diagnosis of cocaine use disorder present a specific and primary deficit in the coding processes, related to to the little or non-systematic use of semantic strategies.