Abstract
Introduction. Opiate addiction is a detrimental condition that involves cyclic periods of abstinence and relapse. While impulsivity has been implicated as a possible mechanism of relapse, impulsivity is a multi-faceted construct and there is no clear consensus on the different types of impulsivity and how they relate to mood and relapse in opiate addiction. Method. This study comprehensively measured impulsivity in 80 opiate dependent individuals (ODI's) who were attempting to abstain from illicit opiate use (with no current dependence/abuse of another illicit drug). Self-reported mood, opiate craving and drug use were also reported for the following six months. Results. Results indicated that while the impulsivity measures did not directly predict ODI's opiate use trajectories, impulsivity was associated with low mood and/or drug craving which subsequently influenced opiate use. Additionally, different types of impulsivity affected mood and drug craving in unique ways. Conclusion. This study further contributes to the literature on the construct of impulsivity in opiate addiction and has implications for drug treatment and identification of those at risk for relapse. Therapy should focus on identifying episodes of low mood and high drug craving, and teach strategies to control certain types of impulsive behaviours during these periods.
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