Abstract
Aims: Trait level impulsivity is a core feature of addictive processes. Research with non-clinical populations suggests that different components of impulsivity are most prominent among men (sensation seeking: SS) and women (negative urgency: NU). This study investigated potential sex differences in the relationship between sensation seeking, negative urgency and substance use among 271 participants with substance use disorders (SUDs). Methods: 139 men and 132 women completed the UPPS-P Impulsive Behavior Scale as part of a larger study of sex differences in neurocognition and drug dependence. DSM-IV TR diagnoses wereobtainedusing theSCID-SubstanceAbuseModule.All subjects were verified abstinent by toxicology screening. Results: As predicted, men scored significantly higher on the SS (p= .02) (Cohen’sd=0.50)whileNUscoreswere significantlyhigher for women (p< .001) (Cohen’s d=0.3). Among women, higher NU scores were significantly associated with past alcohol dependence, p= .01. By contrast, higher SS scores were significantly associated with cocaine dependence among men, p= .004. These results were unchanged when controlling for depression. Conclusions: NU is an index of behavioral dyscontrol triggered by negative affect and SS is the tendency and openness to try new and exciting activities that vary in danger level. NU had a significant positive relationship with past alcohol dependence only for women and this effect could not be attributed to nonspecific effects of psychological distress,while SSwas significantly associatedwith cocaine dependence, but only among men. These findings suggest that specific components of impulsivity interact with vulnerability to substance use disorders differently amongmen and women and that effective prevention and treatment strategies for alcohol and cocaine dependence may benefit from sex and substance specific tailoring. Financial support: Supported by the National Institute on Drug Abuse R01 DA12828.
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