P-925 - Delay discounting: the effect of borderline personality disorder and substance use

Abstract

Delay of discounting (DD) refers to the tendency to prefer immediate but smaller rewards to delayed larger ones. High co-morbidity and the remarkable role of impulsivity in both borderline personality disorder (BPD) and substance abuse (SUD) justify a deficit in DD. The aim of the current study was therefore to explore the effect of BPD and SUD regarding delay discounting and to explore group differences concerning the different types of substances participants use. We compared 4 groups, a total of N = 345 participants: 3 clinical and a healthy comparison group: BPD with (N = 74) and without (N = 36) SUD, substance users without BPD (N = 124) and a healthy comparison group (N = 111). Impulsivity (Barratt Impulsiveness Scale), symptom severity (Brief Symptom Inventory), the presence of BPD (Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-IV Disorders) and delay discounting task were assessed. Data suggests that the BPD + SUD group has the strongest preference for immediate rewards as opposed to a larger reward in the future compared to the CG and the SUD-only. BPD + alcohol using group have significant deficit in DD compared to CG while the other substances with or without the presence of BPD do not seem to make a difference. Results suggest that only the presence of both BPD and SUD play a role in the deficit of delaying gratification, either one does not. These results also propose that BPD and deficit in DD may well be a vulnerability marker for alcohol dependence.