Impulsivity and compulsivity aggregate in alcohol use disorder and explain comorbidity with impulse-control and related disorders

Introduction The conceptualization of impulsivity and compulsiveness has fluctuated between two different perspectives: they are (1) distinct and orthogonal dimensions, (2) extreme poles of the same dimension/ spectrum. We favor this latter, accepting that these dimensions contribute to the etiopa...

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Main Authors: A. Araujo, A.T. Pereira, C. Reis, L. Nascimento, C. Pina, J. Avó, A. Feijão, A. Macedo
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Cambridge University Press 2021-04-01
Series:European Psychiatry
Online Access:https://www.cambridge.org/core/product/identifier/S0924933821015170/type/journal_article
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author A. Araujo
A.T. Pereira
C. Reis
L. Nascimento
C. Pina
J. Avó
A. Feijão
A. Macedo
author_facet A. Araujo
A.T. Pereira
C. Reis
L. Nascimento
C. Pina
J. Avó
A. Feijão
A. Macedo
author_sort A. Araujo
collection DOAJ
description Introduction The conceptualization of impulsivity and compulsiveness has fluctuated between two different perspectives: they are (1) distinct and orthogonal dimensions, (2) extreme poles of the same dimension/ spectrum. We favor this latter, accepting that these dimensions contribute to the etiopathogenesis of impulsive-compulsive disorders, namely alcohol use disorder/AUD. Objectives To analyze: Differences of impulsivity and compulsivity levels between AUD patients vs. participants from the community; prevalence of impulsive-compulsive disorders/ICD in AUD; if impulsivity/compulsivity predict the severity of alcohol use and ICD in AUD. Methods 32 AUD patients (21% women, mean age 46±10) answered the Portuguese versions of: Alcohol-Use-Disorders-Identification-Test, Questionnaire-for-Impulsive-Compulsive-Disorders-in-Parkinson’s-Disease, Barrat-Impulsiveness-Scale, Obsessive-Compulsive-Inventory and Depression-Anxiety-Stress-Scales; 50 adults from the community (68% women, mean age 29±14) answered the former three. Mann-Whitney-U, Spearman and regression tests were performed using SPSS. Results AUD individuals vs. subjects from the community presented higher levels of impulsivity and compulsivity (p<.001). AUD-group: AUDIT median score was 25 (>8 harmful use); 81% reported ICD-symptoms; impulsivity and compulsivity highly correlated (r=.639; p<.001); impulsivity levels explained the presence of certain ICD (gambling, compulsive buying, eating disorders) and depression/anxiety/stress (OR=.152; p<.05); compulsivity levels also explained the occurrence of specific ICD (compulsive buying and other repetitive automatic behaviours) and depression/anxiety/stress (OR=.131 p<.05). Conclusions Our results indicate that impulsivity and compulsivity co-occur and contribute to the explanation of AUD, and related comorbidity and psychological distress. This highlights the utility of considering impulsivity and compulsivity when subtyping, stratifying, and treating AUD patients. Finally, we assert that disorders of impulsivity and compulsivity (eg.: AUD and ICD) co-occur. Conflict of interest No significant relationships.
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spelling doaj.art-cc0856b93b4a49b49e75fe36bbd04d5c2023-11-17T05:05:53ZengCambridge University PressEuropean Psychiatry0924-93381778-35852021-04-0164S569S56910.1192/j.eurpsy.2021.1517Impulsivity and compulsivity aggregate in alcohol use disorder and explain comorbidity with impulse-control and related disordersA. Araujo0A.T. Pereira1C. Reis2L. Nascimento3C. Pina4J. Avó5A. Feijão6A. Macedo7Department Of Psychological Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal Psychiatry Department, Centro Hospitalar e Universitário de Coimbra, Coimbra, PortugalInstitute Of Psychological Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, PortugalFaculty Of Medicine, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, PortugalDicad, ARS, Centro, Coimbra, PortugalDicad, ARS, Centro, Coimbra, PortugalDicad, ARS, Centro, Coimbra, PortugalDicad, ARS, Centro, Coimbra, PortugalInstitute Of Psychological Medicine, Faculty Of Medicine, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal Introduction The conceptualization of impulsivity and compulsiveness has fluctuated between two different perspectives: they are (1) distinct and orthogonal dimensions, (2) extreme poles of the same dimension/ spectrum. We favor this latter, accepting that these dimensions contribute to the etiopathogenesis of impulsive-compulsive disorders, namely alcohol use disorder/AUD. Objectives To analyze: Differences of impulsivity and compulsivity levels between AUD patients vs. participants from the community; prevalence of impulsive-compulsive disorders/ICD in AUD; if impulsivity/compulsivity predict the severity of alcohol use and ICD in AUD. Methods 32 AUD patients (21% women, mean age 46±10) answered the Portuguese versions of: Alcohol-Use-Disorders-Identification-Test, Questionnaire-for-Impulsive-Compulsive-Disorders-in-Parkinson’s-Disease, Barrat-Impulsiveness-Scale, Obsessive-Compulsive-Inventory and Depression-Anxiety-Stress-Scales; 50 adults from the community (68% women, mean age 29±14) answered the former three. Mann-Whitney-U, Spearman and regression tests were performed using SPSS. Results AUD individuals vs. subjects from the community presented higher levels of impulsivity and compulsivity (p<.001). AUD-group: AUDIT median score was 25 (>8 harmful use); 81% reported ICD-symptoms; impulsivity and compulsivity highly correlated (r=.639; p<.001); impulsivity levels explained the presence of certain ICD (gambling, compulsive buying, eating disorders) and depression/anxiety/stress (OR=.152; p<.05); compulsivity levels also explained the occurrence of specific ICD (compulsive buying and other repetitive automatic behaviours) and depression/anxiety/stress (OR=.131 p<.05). Conclusions Our results indicate that impulsivity and compulsivity co-occur and contribute to the explanation of AUD, and related comorbidity and psychological distress. This highlights the utility of considering impulsivity and compulsivity when subtyping, stratifying, and treating AUD patients. Finally, we assert that disorders of impulsivity and compulsivity (eg.: AUD and ICD) co-occur. Conflict of interest No significant relationships. https://www.cambridge.org/core/product/identifier/S0924933821015170/type/journal_article
spellingShingle A. Araujo
A.T. Pereira
C. Reis
L. Nascimento
C. Pina
J. Avó
A. Feijão
A. Macedo
Impulsivity and compulsivity aggregate in alcohol use disorder and explain comorbidity with impulse-control and related disorders
European Psychiatry
title Impulsivity and compulsivity aggregate in alcohol use disorder and explain comorbidity with impulse-control and related disorders
title_full Impulsivity and compulsivity aggregate in alcohol use disorder and explain comorbidity with impulse-control and related disorders
title_fullStr Impulsivity and compulsivity aggregate in alcohol use disorder and explain comorbidity with impulse-control and related disorders
title_full_unstemmed Impulsivity and compulsivity aggregate in alcohol use disorder and explain comorbidity with impulse-control and related disorders
title_short Impulsivity and compulsivity aggregate in alcohol use disorder and explain comorbidity with impulse-control and related disorders
title_sort impulsivity and compulsivity aggregate in alcohol use disorder and explain comorbidity with impulse control and related disorders
url https://www.cambridge.org/core/product/identifier/S0924933821015170/type/journal_article
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