Memory Function in Substance Use Disorders: A Comparative Neuropsychological Study at the Psychiatry Department of Hassan II University Hospital in Fez

Abstract

The study of memory functions in individuals with addictive behaviors is a clinical priority for cognitive assessment and the adaptation of care. Objective: To compare episodic memory and working memory performance between patients receiving addiction treatment and controls, and to examine their association with scores on the Drug Use Disorders Identification Test (DUDIT). Methods: A comparative cross-sectional study conducted at the Fez Addiction Treatment Center involving 100 men, divided into 50 patients and 50 controls. Participants were assessed using a two-story recall task and direct and reverse digit span tests; the DUDIT was administered to the clinical group. Analyses included between-group comparisons, effect sizes, correlations, and analyses adjusted for age and educational level. Results: The mean episodic memory score was 22.46 ± 5.32/60 among patients, compared with 42.54 ± 6.63/60 among controls; the alternative working memory score was 8.04 ± 0.92/16 versus 12.66 ± 1.65/16 (p < 0.001 for both comparisons). The differences persisted after adjustment. No, statistically significant correlation was found between the DUDIT and cognitive scores in the clinical group. Conclusion: In this male clinical sample characterized by frequent poly-substance use, performance on memory tests was lower than that of the control group. The cross-sectional nature of the study and the lack of control for several confounding factors preclude any causal interpretation

Key words: addictive behaviors, neuropsychological assessment, working memory, episodic memory

Received Date: September 17, 2026

Accepted Date: October 09, 2026

Published Date: November 01, 2026

Available Online at: https://www.ijsrisjournal.com/index.php/ojsfiles/article/view/1039