Objectives: Impulsivity is related to a higher risk of relapse in alcohol use disorders. However, besides drinking behavior, other recovery outcomes like physical and mental health-related quality of life are at least as important. The present study aimed to fill a research gap regarding the association of different impulsivity facets with healthrelated quality of life and well-being in alcohol use disorder.Methods: Individuals with a primary alcohol use disorder diagnosis (n = 167) were interviewed with standardized self-report measures at the progressed stage of their withdrawal treatment and 6 weeks thereafter. Multiple regression models were calculated to examine the association of impulsivity, craving, and drinking patterns with health-related quality of life and well-being 6 weeks after withdrawal treatment, as well as the predictive role of impulsivity assessed during withdrawal for these two outcomes.

Zusammenfassung. Zielsetzung: Die vorliegende Pilotstudie untersuchte, ob selbstberichtete Achtsamkeit bei drogenabhängigen Patienten negativ mit impulsivem Verhalten assoziiert ist und ob dieser Zusammenhang über eine effektivere Emotionsregulation vermittelt wird. Ferner wurde die Relevanz der Differenzierung verschiedener Impulsivitäts-Facetten im Zusammenhang mit Craving und Abstinenzzuversicht untersucht. Methodik: Einunddreißig männliche drogenabhängige Patienten in stationärer Entwöhnung beantworteten Fragen zu Achtsamkeit (MAAS), Emotionsregulationskompetenzen (SEK-27), Depressivität (PHQ-9), Craving (MaCS) und Abstinenzzuversicht (HEISA-16). Impulsivität wurde zum einen als selbstberichtetes Trait-Merkmal (BIS-15) erfasst. Weiterhin wurden die verhaltensbezogenen Komponenten impulsives Entscheidungsverhalten (Delay Discouting Task) und substanzbezogene Inhibitionskontrolle (Go-/No-Go-Aufgabe) erhoben. Ergebnisse: Achtsamkeit war negativ mit Trait-Impulsivität assoziiert und hing, mediiert über höhere Emotionsregulationskompetenzen, positiv mit Inhibitionskontrolle zusammen. Trait-Impulsivität und Delay Discounting erwiesen sich als Korrelate von Craving. Keine der Impulsivitäts-Facetten war mit Abstinenzzuversicht assoziiert. Schlussfolgerungen: Die Differenzierung der Impulsivitäts-Facetten stellte sich als bedeutsam heraus. Experimentelle Designs sind nun notwendig, um die in der vorliegenden Pilotstudie gefundenen Zusammenhänge hinsichtlich ihrer Kausalität zu prüfen.

Background Deficits in inhibitory control seem to promote habit behavior and therefore play an important role in the development and maintenance of addictive diseases. Although several training approaches have been suggested, there is a considerable lack of knowledge about the best way to improve inhibitory control. Based on a literature review regarding shortcomings of existing trainings, an individualized, adaptive inhibitory control training was developed. We aimed to assess feasibility and acceptance of this training and to provide preliminary results on its efficacy regarding inhibitory control and binge drinking. Methods Sixty-one individuals (30 female) with binge drinking behavior were randomly allocated to either an experimental group receiving three sessions of the inhibitory control training or a waitlist control group receiving no training. Before and after the training, the participants performed a Go/NoGo task to assess inhibitory control (commission errors and false reaction time), completed a questionnaire on drinking-related self-control, and reported drinking behavior. Results Although the training was feasible and accepted by participants, it did not affect self-control over drinking, inhibitory control or drinking behavior. The relationship between session number and false reaction time was linear for alcohol stimuli, but squared for neutral stimuli. Conclusion Although our findings have to be interpreted in the light of some shortcomings, they demonstrate that further research is needed to enhance our understanding of how to improve inhibitory control and which factors might moderate this process.

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