Self-report of memory and affective dysfunction in association with medication use in a sample of individuals with chronic sleep disturbance

Benzodiazepines produce memory disturbance after acute administration. It i s not clear whether chronic use of benzodiazepines is hazardous to memory p rocesses. Epidemiological data indicate that a large proportion(10-30 per c ent) of individuals with sleep dysfunction take hypnotic aids for a Sear or longer. The purpose of the present study was to evaluate self-reported mem ory dysfunction in a sample of individuals w ho considered their sleep dist urbance sufficiently severe to seek investigation in sleep clinics. It was hypothesized that individuals: taking benzodiazepines for sleep would repor t greater perceived everyday memory failures than individuals taking other sleep aids or no medication. Questionnaires a ere given to 368 individuals referred into the study by investigators in six sleep disorders clinics. Al l respondents completed a lengthy (700-item) questionnaire. which included scales assessing memory difficulties, affective status and sleep disturbanc e. Respondents also reported any medication use for sleep problems and dura tion of use of the current drug. Information on medication use was reported by 289 participants. Fifty-six per cent of respondents reported using some form of psychoactive medication (antidepressants, benzodiazepines. Zopiclo ne). Twenty-two per cent reported using no medication. Analysis of covarian ce showed that these medications had no detectable effect on subjective mem ory difficulties during chronic use. F(4.226)=1.34. p=0.25 Copyright (C) 20 00 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.