Prospective Memory Concerns Questionnaire (PMCQ) 35-item scale
Instructions, scoring information, and items
Instructions for administration
This questionnaire may be completed by the individual, or with the assistance of a researcher
or clinician. Assistance should only include clarification of the meaning of items. Recall of
the frequency of memory concerns should not be provided on behalf of the individual.
Administration Instructions for the PMCQ
The following questions include statements about your memory. Please read each item very
carefully and decide how frequently you experience each of these behaviors. Please make
sure that you answer each of the questions, even if they do not seem applicable to you.
PMCQ subscales and scoring
Note: item numbers refer to the modified 35 item PMCQ.
PMCQ total scores
To calculate the total PMCQ score, sum ratings of all 35 items to create a score out of 105.
Alternately, an average score can be calculated by summing scores on all 35 items and
dividing by 35. Item 21 is worded in the opposite direction to all other items and will
therefore need to be reverse scored before calculating these scores.
Forgetting Behaviors Subscale (FB)
To calculate the Forgetting Behaviors subscale score, sum ratings on each of the 12 FB scores
in the table below to create a score out of 36. Alternately, an average score can be calculated
by summing scores on all 12 FB items and dividing by 12. Item 21 is worded in the opposite
direction to all other items and will therefore need to be reverse scored before calculating
these scores.
Memory Concerns Subscale (MC)
To calculate the Memory Concerns subscale score, sum ratings on each of the 11 MC scores
in the table below to create a score out of 36. Alternately, an average score can be calculated
by summing scores on all 11 MC items and dividing by 11.
Retrieval Cue Subscale (RF)
To calculate the Retrieval Failures subscale score, sum ratings on each of the 12 RF scores in
the table below to create a score out of 36. Alternately, an average score can be calculated by
summing scores on all 12 RF items and dividing by 12.
T-scores
Please refer to Tables S1-S5. Table S1 reports the mean, standard deviation, SEM, and range
of PMCQ scores in the normative sample. Table S2 presents the raw score and the Z and T
score equivalents for these raw scores on the PMCQ. Tables S3-S5 include the Z and T
scores for the PMCQ subscales. T-scores have a mean of 50 and standard deviation of 10.
Therefore, a T score of 60 indicates that the person scored one standard deviation above the
mean of the normative sample. A T score of 30 suggest that the person scored 2 standard
deviations below the average of the normative sample. These T-scores can be used to
compare performance across the PMCQ and its subscales and other measures.
Table S6. PMCQ Items
Scale Item
FB 1 I forget to do daily tasks such as paying bills, posting letters, or putting the garbage
out
FB 2 I forget to pass important messages on to family, friends, or colleagues
RF 3 There are times when I remember that I need to do something, but I cannot
remember what it is
RF 4 I walk into a room and forget why I went there
FB 5 I put things in the wrong place e.g., milk in the cupboard and sugar in the fridge
FB 6 In the middle of a sentence, I forget what I was going to say
FB 7 I forget important appointments
FB 8 When I am given a message to pass on, I forget what the message was
RF 9 I forget to do things that I have started e.g., hanging washing out once the washing
machine has finished
FB 10 I forget to do things that can be done in a sequence e.g., buy a stamp, put the stamp
on an envelope and post it
RF 11 I forget where I have placed things e.g., keys or money
RF 12 Seeing places or objects can remind me that I need to do something, but I cannot
remember exactly what it is
FB 13 When I have to do two things at once, I have trouble remembering to do both
RF 14 I forget to do things because I get carried away doing something else
RF 15 I find that I do not return to planned tasks if I get interrupted
RF 16 I forget to do some things that I have planned to do
RF 17 I forget things that I am supposed to be doing if I am anxious or worried about
something
FB 18* I remember to do things I need to do even if I am in the middle of another task*
MC 19 I have trouble remembering directions or instructions
MC 20 I have trouble switching my attention between two different things e.g., watching
TV and talking to someone at the same time
MC 21 When I am tired, stressed, angry, or upset I forget to do things more often than
normal
MC 22 I forget important dates, birthdays, or anniversaries
RF 23 I can only remember that I have a message to pass on when I see the person the
message is for
FB 24 I do things twice because I forget that I have already done them e.g., take a tablet
twice
FB 25 I think that I have done things when I actually have not done them
RF 26 I tell people the same story because I forget that I have already told them
MC 27 I have trouble remembering the names of people and places
MC 28 I have trouble remembering recent events in my life
RF 29 I remember the main parts of instructions (e.g., buy milk) but I forget details (buy
two litres of milk)
FB 30 I forget to turn the stove or iron off
MC 31 I worry that my memory is getting worse
MC 32 I know that I am going to need a memory aid such as a note, list, or alarm
MC 33 It takes me longer to do mental tasks than it used to e.g., crosswords
MC 34 I get frustrated with myself because I forget to do things that I was supposed to do
MC 35 I have trouble thinking of ways to help my memory
*Items are reverse scored.
