Facets Of Impulsivity Research Articles

Steep Discounting of Future Rewards as an Impulsivity Phenotype: A Concise Review.

This chapter provides an overview over the behavioral economic index of impulsivity known as delay discounting. Specifically, delay discounting refers to an individual's preference for smaller immediate rewards over a larger delayed rewards. The more precipitously an individual discounts future rewards, the more impulsive they are considered to be. First, the chapter reviews the nature of delay discounting as a psychological process and juxtaposes it with nominally similar processes, including other facets of impulsivity. Second, the chapter reviews the links between delay discounting and numerous health behaviors, including addiction, attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder, and obesity. Third, the determinants of individual variation in delay discounting are discussed, including both genetic and environmental contributions. Finally, the chapter evaluates delay discounting as a potentially modifiable risk factor and the status of clinical interventions designed to reduce delay discounting to address deficits in self-control in a variety of maladaptive behaviors.

A cross-sectional and comparative study of impulsivity and personality profile in euthymic bipolar affective disorder patients and controls

Introduction: Bipolar patients show increased impulsivity during symptomatic period. Impulsivity during euthymic phase is not much studied. Impulsivity is a risk factor for future episodes of BPAD, suicidality, poor functional outcome and mortality. Aims and Objectives: The current study conducted during euthymic phase to study impulsivity compared with controls and to assess any particular personality trait manifests in the disorder. It is also aimed to study the correlation between the variables “impulsivity and personality” profiles among cases. Materials and Methods: This study was conducted on patients of euthymic bipolar disorder (n=50) and healthy controls (n=50). Patients were assessed using Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HDRS) and Young Mania Rating Scale (YMRS) to diagnose remission. They were administered Barratt Impulsiveness Scale-11(BIS-11) and Eysenck Personality Inventory (EPI).The healthy attendants of bipolar patients without any psychiatric disorder were taken as controls. Results: All three facets of impulsivity of test and control sample were found to be statistically significant. The difference between test and control scores of extraversion was found to be statistically significant (p=.002). Among test sample the extraversion scale and total score of Barratt impulsivity scale and its subscale facets i.e., attentional, motor and non-planning showed positive correlation. Among test sample, correlation between extraversion, BIS total score (p=0.018) and non-planning impulsivity (p=0.026) was found significant. The neurotic scale also showed positive correlation with BIS total and sub scales but none of them found statistically significant among test sample. Conclusions: Impulsivity was found to be increased during euthymic phase of bipolar patients. It is associated with substance abuse, suicide and poor functional outcome. Hence it is very important that impulsivity has to be assessed in all bipolar affective disorder patients. Keywords:

The Role of Impulsivity Facets on the Incidence and Development of Alcohol Use Disorders.

Alcohol Use Disorder (AUD) is a chronic relapsing disorder defined according to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders 5 (DSM-5; American Psychiatric Association 2013), "by a cluster of behavioural and physical symptoms, which can include, withdrawal, tolerance and craving". Social, emotional, behavioural and cognitive factors are important contributors to AUD. Impulsivity, a multifaceted behavioural concept, defined as a predisposition for rapid and unplanned actions, without considering potential negative consequences of these actions, represents an important such factor. In this chapter, research on the role of distinct impulsivity dimensions in different severity stages of alcohol use is presented.Increased self-reported (trait) impulsivity and an inability to wait, as well as difficulty to adjust behaviour appropriately following a failure to withhold a response are observed across the spectrum of alcohol-use severities. Research on temporal impulsivity (inability to delay gratification) consistently shows deficits in more severe alcohol users. Data on temporal impulsivity in early stages of alcohol use are less consistent, with some studies showing no differences between high and moderate drinkers, while others indicating increased impulsivity in high alcohol users. Data on reflexion impulsivity are currently limited to draw conclusions. Recent research is also presented suggesting the importance of perception and interpretation of physiological and emotional signals on alcohol use behaviour highlighting the necessity of comprehensive integration of the field of the study of emotion and interoception with impulsivity research.

Associations among Negative Urgency, Sensation Seeking, Alcohol Use, Self-Esteem, and Casual Sexual Behavior for College Students

Background: The present study proposed a moderated mediation model of relations among negative urgency, sensation seeking, alcohol use, self-esteem, and casual sexual behavior among college students. We hypothesized students’ alcohol use would mediate a positive relation between two facets of impulsivity, negative urgency and sensation seeking, with casual sexual behavior. We also examined the influence of self-esteem on alcohol use and casual sexual behavior to determine if self-esteem may serve as a point of intervention. We hypothesized that self-esteem might moderate the relation between casual sexual behavior and alcohol use, such that students who report high alcohol use in addition to low self-esteem would engage in more casual sexual behavior than individuals who report relatively higher levels of self-esteem. Methods: Data were collected in 2015 from 413 undergraduate students at a large Northeastern public university. Structural equation modeling tested the moderated mediation model. Results: Contrary to hypotheses, the theorized model demonstrated an inadequate fit to the data when self-esteem was included. A second structural model was calculated to test alcohol use as a mediator of associations between negative urgency and sensation seeking, and casual sexual behavior. As hypothesized, students’ alcohol use was found to be a mediator of the positive associations between negative urgency and casual sexual behavior and sensation seeking and casual sexual behavior. Conclusions: Findings suggest that alcohol use, negative urgency, and sensation seeking may serve as points of intervention to address casual sexual behavior, as appropriate, among college student populations.

The Association of Impulsivity and Family History of Alcohol Use Disorder on Alcohol Use and Consequences.

Extensive research indicates that having a positive family history of alcohol use disorder (FHP) and impulsivity are 2 risk factors for problem drinking. To our knowledge, no study has investigated which facets of impulsivity interact with family history to increase risk for problem drinking. The goal of this study was to: (i) examine whether FHP individuals with higher levels of impulsivity are more likely to engage in problematic drinking, and (ii) identify which facets of impulsivity interact with FHP to increase risk for problems. The data consisted of a combined sample of 757 participants (50% female, 73% White, mean age=32.85, SD=11.31) drawn from the Transdisciplinary Tobacco Use Research Center and the Center for the Translational Neuroscience of Alcohol. Analyses of covariance and cumulative logistic regression models investigated the association of family history and impulsivity-related traits with drinking quantity, frequency, and alcohol-related problems. Models were adjusted for age, sex, race, ethnic group, education level, and data source. Significant interactions between impulsivity and family history were found for measures of alcohol-related problems. Specifically, there was a stronger positive association of Barratt Impulsiveness Scale (BIS) poor self-regulation with interpersonal, F(1, 504)=6.27, p=0.01, and impulse control alcohol-related problems, F(1, 504)=6.00, p=0.01, among FHP compared to FHN individuals. Main effects of family history and impulsivity on alcohol quantity and frequency of use and problems were also found. These findings suggest that having both a family history of AUD and high BIS poor self-regulation is more strongly associated with alcohol-related consequences in the interpersonal and impulse control domains. Given the heterogeneity of impulsivity, these findings highlight the need for additional research to examine which facets of impulsivity are associated with which alcohol outcomes to narrow phenotypic risk for alcohol misuse.

Reinforcer pathology among cigarette smokers with and without history of alcohol use disorder.

Delay discounting (DD) and cigarette demand contribute to an understanding of nicotine reward and dependence. However, no prior attempt has been made to examine the effect of a history of Alcohol Use Disorder (AUD) on DD and tobacco demand in current smokers. This study sought to compare DD and cigarette demand in smokers with and without a history of AUD. The sample comprised 43 smokers with a history of AUD and 49 with no history of drug use. Participants completed the DD task and the 19-item version of the Cigarette Purchase Task. Mazur's equation and the Koffarnus et al. model were used to derive the discounting rates and elasticity of demand, respectively. Smokers with a history of AUD discounted delayed rewards more steeply (Mlogk= -1.77, SD=1.46) than those without such a history (Mlogk= -2.32, SD=1.04). No statistically significant differences in cigarette demand emerged between groups. The excessive preference for immediate rewards in smokers with a history of AUD suggests that impulsive choice persists even after alcohol abstinence. As DD constitutes an important marker of poor treatment outcomes, targeting this specific facet of impulsivity in broader clinical interventions might be helpful.

Relationships between generalized impulsivity and subjective stimulant and sedative responses following alcohol administration.

Impulsivity and subjective response (SR) to alcohol (i.e., individual differences in sensitivity to pharmacologic alcohol effects) are both empirically supported risk factors for alcohol use disorder; however, these constructs have been infrequently studied as related risk factors. The present investigation examined a self-report measure of impulsivity (i.e., the Barratt Impulsiveness Scale, Version 11) in relation to acute alcohol effects (i.e., stimulant and sedative SR). Participants came from 2 cohorts of the Chicago Social Drinking Project. Heavy and light drinkers from Cohort 1 (n = 156) and heavy social drinkers from Cohort 2 (n = 104) were examined using identical laboratory protocols following oral alcohol administration using a within-subject, double-blind, placebo-controlled laboratory study design. Self-reported impulsivity and, for comparison purposes, sensation seeking were measured at baseline, and SR was measured once prior to and 4 times following alcohol administration. More impulsive light, but not heavy, drinkers reported heightened stimulant SR following alcohol administration. High impulsive, light drinkers reported stimulant SR at a magnitude similar to that for heavy drinkers, whereas low impulsive, light drinkers reported limited stimulant SR. The interaction between impulsivity and sensation seeking did not statistically predict stimulant SR, and overall, impulsivity was a stronger predictor than was sensation seeking. However, impulsivity was not statistically predictive of dampened sedative SR among light or heavy drinkers. These findings partially replicate and extend the recent literature linking self-reported impulsivity to heightened stimulant SR from alcohol. Future directions include longitudinal studies and research relating multiple facets of impulsivity to SR. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2019 APA, all rights reserved).

Confirmatory factor analysis of the Barratt Impulsiveness Scale–short form (BIS–15) in patients with mental disorders

Impulsivity is a major component of various mental disorders. A short form of the Barratt Impulsiveness Scale—the BIS–15—assesses three facets of impulsivity: non-planning, motor, and attentional. A confirmatory factor analysis tested its factor structure composed of three first-order latent factors and a second-order impulsivity factor in 453 patients with mental disorders (64% female). Model fit was acceptable as were internal reliabilities of the subscales and the total scale. The BIS–15 has sound psychometric properties in patients with mental disorders and, thus, can be used for assessing impulsivity and its subcomponents in this population.

Interactive effects of impulsivity and dietary restraint over snack intake in children

Impulsivity and dietary restraint have been found to interact to affect dietary intake in adults. Few studies have explored this effect in children. The current study therefore aimed to investigate the interactive effects of behavioural impulsivity and dietary restraint on intake. Fifty 7-11-year-olds participated in this laboratory-based study. Impulsivity was assessed through behavioural tasks measuring a number of impulsivity facets. Children self-reported dietary restraint. Children visited the lab and had access to a range of snack foods; intake was recorded. Hunger at arrival was assessed. A series of 2 x 2 between-subjects ANCOVAs indicated that motor impulsivity and dietary restraint interacted to affect intake. Reward sensitivity, delay of gratification and inhibitory control did not interact with dietary restraint. Post-hoc analyses indicated that children high in motor impulsivity and restraint ate significantly more snacks than restrained children low in motor impulsivity. Furthermore, children low in motor impulsivity but high in dietary restraint were better at inhibiting their intake than children low in impulsivity and dietary restraint. The results indicate that high levels of impulsivity or dietary restraint in isolation do not affect children's dietary intake but that their combination may lead to overeating in food rich environments.

Borderline Personality Disorder Features and Risk for Prescription Opioid Misuse in a Chronic Pain Sample: Roles for Identity Disturbances and Impulsivity.

Although borderline personality disorder (BPD) is associated with both chronic pain and substance abuse, little research examines how BPD features in chronic pain patients may constitute a risk factor for misuse of prescription opioids, and no prior research has examined which particular component(s) of BPD might put chronic pain patients at risk-an oversight that undermines prevention and treatment of such problematic opioid use. In a cross-sectional study of patients in treatment for chronic pain (N = 147), BPD features were associated with several measures of prescription opioid misuse, even controlling for pain severity and interference. Specifically, the identity disturbances and self-harmful impulsivity facets of BPD were most consistently associated with opioid misuse, and exploratory analyses suggested that these factors may be interactive in their effects. Together, these results suggest that BPD features-especially unstable identity and self-harmful impulsivity-play a unique role in problematic prescription opioid use in chronic pain settings.

Are relationships between impulsivity and depressive symptoms in adolescents sex-dependent?

IntroductionBoth depressive symptomology and impulsivity are common during adolescence and are associated with various negative life outcomes. The potential sex-dependent nature of relationships between these constructs needs further exploration in order to understand their complexities. This cross-sectional study examined how levels of these constructs may differ by sex. Additionally, we investigated whether sex moderates relationships between adolescents' depression symptoms and different facets of impulsivity. Methods156 adolescents (Mage = 17.37, SD = 1.91, 59% female) completed self-report measures of their demographics, depression symptoms, and impulsivity. Multiple Analysis of Covariance (MANCOVA) assessed mean differences in depression symptoms and impulsivity by sex and race/ethnicity. Moderation analyses examined how sex may indirectly affect relationships between depression symptoms to predict attentional, motor, and non-planning impulsivity facets, as well as overall trait impulsivity. ResultsCorrelations between depression symptoms and impulsivity scores were significant. Baseline depression symptoms were significantly higher among females (M = 9.53) compared to males (M = 6.68). Moderation effects of sex were not significant for attentional, motor, or overall trait impulsivity. However, sex moderated relations between depression symptoms and non-planning impulsivity, such that adolescent males showed higher levels of non-planning impulsivity when they reported high levels of depressive symptoms (B = .32, p < .01). This relationship was not significant for females. ConclusionsWhile adolescent females may be more prone to depression, adolescent males may be more likely to experience non-planning impulsivity when experiencing symptoms of depression. The results of this study extend the literature regarding sex differences in vulnerabilities between these constructs. We suggest interventions targeting non-planning impulsivity may be especially salient for adolescent males reporting high levels of depressive symptoms.

Structural or dispositional? An experimental investigation of the experience of winning in social casino games (and impulsivity) on subsequent gambling behaviors.

Background and aimsIn the present research, we experimentally investigated whether the experience of winning (i.e., inflated payout rates) in a social casino game influenced social casino gamers’ subsequent decision to gamble for money. Furthermore, we assessed whether facets of dispositional impulsivity – negative and positive urgency in particular – also influenced participants’ subsequent gambling.MethodsSocial casino gamers who were also current gamblers (N = 318) were asked to play a social casino game to assess their perceptions of the game in exchange for $3. Unbeknownst to them, players were randomly assigned to one of three experimental conditions: winning (n = 110), break-even (n = 103), or losing (n = 105). After playing, participants were offered a chance to gamble their $3 renumeration in an online roulette game.ResultsA total of 280 participants (88.1%) elected to gamble, but no between-condition variation in the decision to gamble emerged. Furthermore, there were no differences in gambling on the online roulette between condition. However, higher levels of both negative and positive urgency increased the likelihood of gambling. Finally, impulsivity did not moderate the relationship between experience of winning and decision to gamble.ConclusionThe results suggest that dispositional factors, including impulsive urgency, are implicated in the choice to gamble for social casino gamers following play.

To eat or not to eat: Reward delay impulsivity in children with loss of control eating, attention deficit / hyperactivity disorder, a double diagnosis, and healthy children

Reward delay impulsivity is a feature of attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and a likely feature of loss of control eating (LOC-E), which might explain the higher risk of children with ADHD or LOC-E to become obese. The goal of this study was to investigate reward delay impulsivity in children with LOC-E, ADHD, or a double diagnosis, in contrast to healthy children. Children (8 to 13 years) with LOC-E (n = 24), ADHD (n = 33), a double diagnosis (n = 9), and healthy children (n = 34) performed a computer game (door opening task [DOT]) and the delay of gratification task (DoGT) to assess food related facets of reward delay impulsivity. In addition, children reported whether they worried to lose control over eating during the DoGT. There were no group differences in the DOT. However, children with ADHD or a double diagnosis had a significantly higher risk to eat prematurely during the DoGT than children with LOC-E, who were not significantly different from healthy children. Children with a double diagnosis were most likely to worry about losing control over eating during the DoGT, followed by children with LOC-E, and both had a significantly higher probability to worry than healthy children. For children with a double diagnosis the probability to worry was significantly higher than for children with ADHD. If replicated, these findings point to a special relevance of reward delay impulsivity in children with ADHD or a double diagnosis, compared to children with LOC-E. ADHD should be regularly assessed in children with LOC-E.

Reversal Learning Performance in the XY∗ Mouse Model of Klinefelter and Turner Syndromes.

Klinefelter syndrome (KS; 47, XXY) and Turner syndrome (TS; 45, XO) are caused by two relatively common sex chromosome aneuploidies. These conditions are associated with an increased odds of neuropsychiatric disorders, including attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), as well as impairments in cognition that include learning delays, attentional dysfunction and impulsivity. We studied cognitive functions in the XY∗ mouse model, which allows comparison of XXY to XY males (KS model), and XO to XX females (TS model). We evaluated adult mice with and without gonads, using a version of an operant reversal-learning task (RLT) that can be used to measure various facets of learning, impulsivity and attention. In the KS model, only one measure related to impulsivity – perseverative responding under reversal conditions – reliably discriminated gonadally intact XXY and XY mice. In contrast, a fundamental learning impairment (more trials to criterion in acquisition phase) in XXY mice, as compared to XY, was observed in gonadectomized subjects. No other task measures showed differences consistent with KS. In the TS mouse model, XO mice did not show a pattern of results consistent with TS, similar to past observations. Thus, the application of this RLT to these XY∗ models reveals only limited behavioral impairments relevant to KS.

Neuroendocrinological mechanisms underlying impulsive and compulsive behaviors in obesity: a narrative review of fMRI studies.

Impulsivity and compulsivity are multidimensional constructs that are increasingly considered determinants of obesity. Studies using functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) have provided insight on how differences in brain response during tasks exploring facets of impulsivity and compulsivity relate to the ingestive behaviors that support the etiology and maintenance of obesity. In this narrative review, we provide an overview of neuroimaging studies exploring impulsivity and compulsivity factors as they relate to weight status. Special focus will be placed on studies examining the impulsivity-related dimensions of attentional bias, delayed gratification and emotion regulation. Discussions of compulsivity within the context of obesity will be restricted to fMRI studies investigating habit formation and response flexibility under shifting contingencies. Further, we will highlight neuroimaging research demonstrating how alterations in neuroendocrine functioning are linked to excessive food intake and may serve as a driver of the impulsive and compulsive behaviors observed in obesity. Research on the associations between brain response with neuroendocrine factors, such as insulin, peptide YY (PYY), leptin, ghrelin and glucagon-like peptide 1 (GLP-1), will be reviewed.

Impulse control disorders in Parkinson's disease versus in healthy controls: A different predictive model.

Impulse control disorders (ICDs), including compulsive gambling, buying, sexual behaviour and eating, are not only a severe disorder that can affect the general, non-clinical population, but also a serious, increasingly recognized psychiatric complication in Parkinson's disease (PD). Previous research detected some risk factors for their occurrence in PD patients and in the general population, including impulsivity. However, impulsivity is a multidimensional construct that comprises several aspects, including reflection impulsivity and delay discounting. The present work assessed different facets of impulsivity in both PD patients and in the healthy controls (HCs) to examine whether they scored differently, and if the occurrence of ICDs in PD patients and in the HCs was predicted by different aspects of impulsivity. The results showed that ICDs in PD patients were predicted by a strong preference for immediate rewards, whereas ICDs in the HCs were predicted by a deficient reflective ability. The present findings may help clinicians in the early identification of PD patients who could develop ICDs by simply assessing their impulsivity in terms of delay discounting. Furthermore, this work contributed to identify another risk factor for ICDs in the non-clinical population.

Impulsivity and aggression: A meta-analysis using the UPPS model of impulsivity

Abstract Trait impulsivity has long been proposed to play a role in aggression, but the results across studies have been mixed. One possible explanation for the mixed results is that impulsivity is a multifaceted construct and some, but not all, facets are related to aggression. The goal of the current meta-analysis was to determine the relation between the different facets of impulsivity (i.e., negative urgency, positive urgency, lack of premeditation, lack of perseverance, and sensation seeking) and aggression. The results from 93 papers with 105 unique samples (N = 36, 215) showed significant and small-to-medium correlations between each facet of impulsivity and aggression across several different forms of aggression, with more impulsivity being associated with more aggression. Moreover, negative urgency (r = 0.24, 95% [0.18, 0.29]), positive urgency (r = 0.34, 95% [0.19, 0.44]), and lack of premeditation (r = 0.23, 95% [0.20, 0.26]) had significantly stronger associations with aggression than the other scales (rs

Nucleus Accumbens Fast-Spiking Interneurons Constrain Impulsive Action

BackgroundThe nucleus accumbens (NAc) controls multiple facets of impulsivity but is a heterogeneous brain region with diverse microcircuitry. Prior literature links impulsive behavior in rodents to gamma-aminobutyric acid signaling in the NAc. Here, we studied the regulation of impulsive behavior by fast-spiking interneurons (FSIs), a strong source of gamma-aminobutyric acid–mediated synaptic inhibition in the NAc. MethodsMale and female transgenic mice expressing Cre recombinase in FSIs allowed us to identify these sparsely distributed cells in the NAc. We used a 5-choice serial reaction time task to measure both impulsive action and sustained attention. During the 5-choice serial reaction time task, we monitored FSI activity with fiber photometry calcium imaging and manipulated FSI activity with chemogenetic and optogenetic methodology. We used electrophysiology, optogenetics, and fluorescent in situ hybridization to confirm these methods were robust and specific to FSIs. ResultsIn mice performing the 5-choice serial reaction time task, NAc FSIs showed sustained activity on trials ending with correct responses, but FSI activity declined over time on trials ending with premature responses. The number of premature responses increased significantly after sustained chemogenetic inhibition or temporally delimited optogenetic inhibition of NAc FSIs, without any changes in response latencies or general locomotor activity. ConclusionsThese experiments provide strong evidence that NAc FSIs constrain impulsive actions, most likely through gamma-aminobutyric acid–mediated synaptic inhibition of medium spiny projection neurons. Our findings may provide insight into the pathophysiology of disorders associated with impulsivity and may inform the development of circuit-based therapeutic interventions.

Impulsivity facets and perceived likelihood of future suicide attempt among patients who recently attempted suicide

BackgroundGiven the substantial heterogeneity of both impulsivity and suicidality, increased specificity in studying relations between these variables is needed. One aspect of suicidality that may be especially important for predicting future risk among those with a recent suicide attempt is self-perceived likelihood of making a future attempt (suicide likelihood). Presently, little is known about the extent to which impulsivity is related to this important aspect of suicidality. We examined whether three distinct impulsivity facets (i.e., deficits in conscientiousness, negative urgency, and sensation seeking) would differentially predict suicide likelihood. MethodsParticipants included 155 psychiatric inpatients who presented to a Level-1 trauma hospital after a recent suicide attempt. Structural Equation Modeling (SEM), in which demographic and clinical covariates were controlled, was conducted to examine whether each impulsivity facet would uniquely predict suicide likelihood. ResultsDeficits in conscientiousness was the only robust predictor of suicide likelihood, with an association that persisted after accounting for demographic and clinical covariates. LimitationsThe cross-sectional design and unknown predictive validity of suicide likelihood are study limitations. ConclusionThis was a preliminary investigation of impulsivity facets with suicide likelihood. Clinical implications of this study suggest that deficits in conscientiousness and suicide likelihood may be important factors to consider when identifying and intervening with patients at high-risk for suicide.

Mechanisms of Black-White disparities in health among older adults: Examining discrimination and personality.

We tested whether personality traits help explain the association between discrimination and racial health disparities in a sample of 1033 Black and White older adults. Participants completed measures of discrimination, personality, and self-reported physical and mental health. Elevated discrimination among Black participants was indirectly linked to worse physical and mental health outcomes through elevated neuroticism and lower agreeableness, controlling income, education, and gender. The specific facets of depression, impulsiveness, and trust were the most robust intervening personality factors. Interventions that target cognitive, emotional, and behavioral sequelae of discrimination may lessen its impact on health disparities.