Relationships of impulsiveness and depressive symptoms in alcohol dependence

Abstract

Background Depressive symptoms as well as high levels of impulsivity are subjects of special interest in alcohol dependence, as these factors are considered to influence the course of this disorder. However, until now mutual relationships between impulsivity and depression have not been investigated thoroughly in alcohol-dependent patients. Methods By means of the Barratt Impulsiveness Scale (BIS-11) and stop-signal task, levels of impulsivity among 304 alcohol-dependent patients were measured. The stop-signal task was used as a manipulation-free method of estimating the level of behavioral impulsiveness, and the BIS-11 is a self report measure of global as well as cognitive impulsivity. Patients were also asked to complete the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) and Hopelessness Scale (BHS). The results were analyzed in order to examine relationships between impulsiveness and depressive symptoms. Results Statistical analyses revealed significant associations between impulsiveness and severity of depressive symptoms. Individuals with higher scores on the BDI were more impulsive on the BIS-11, whereas patients with higher scores on the BHS were more impulsive on both the stop-signal task and BIS-11. The strongest correlations were found with the attention impulsivity subscale of BIS-11. Adjusting for other variables, a linear regression analysis revealed that cognitive impulsivity was the strongest predictor of depression severity. Limitations The main limitation of the study is a not fully representative sample, with exclusion of patients with active mood disorders Conclusions The results indicate a strong association between depressive symptoms and impulsivity in alcohol-dependent patients, and suggest an important distinction between hopelessness and other depressive symptoms.

Response inhibition in alcohol-dependent patients and patients with depression/anxiety: a functional magnetic resonance imaging study

“…It should be noted, however, that these studies were performed with either affective paradigms, assessing inhibition in a negative emotional context, or with the Barratt Impulsiveness Scale Version 11 (BIS-11;Patton et al 1995), a subjective impulsivity questionnaire. Moreover, two studies in AD patients showing that depression (Jakubczyk et al 2012) and anxiety (Karch et al 2008) symptom severity was associated with increased impulsivity excluded AD patients with an established co-morbid depression/anxiety DSM-IV diagnosis. Thus, it remains unclear how depression/ anxiety is related to (non-affective) response inhibition, and especially whether AD patients with co-morbid depression/anxiety disorders resemble patients with depression/anxiety only.…”

Neurogenetics and Epigenetics in Impulsive Behaviour: Impact on Reward Circuitry

“…The disorder often involves affective symptoms, such as in depression, and high levels of impulsiveness [204], and in alcohol-dependent patients a strong relationship exists between depressiveness and impulsiveness [205]. It has been shown that high levels of impulsiveness/impulse control problems seem to elevate vulnerability for development of alcohol dependence, as well as being predictive for poor outcome measures.…”

Alcohol use, depressive symptoms, and impulsivity as risk factors for suicide proneness among college students

“…Additionally, the association between negative mood and problematic/maladaptive behavior is stronger among more impulsive people (Dvorak, Simons, & Wray, 2011; Karyadi & King, 2011; King, Karyadi, Luk, & Patock-Peckham, 2011; Simons, Dvorak, Batien, & Wray, 2010; Wray, Simons, Dvorak, & Gaher, 2012). Further, depression and impulsivity often co-occur in individuals with substance use disorders (Bickel, Kowal, & Gatchalian, 2006; Jakubczyk et al, 2012). Together, these results suggest that impulsivity coupled with depressive symptoms may contribute to increased risk taking behaviors among individuals who consume alcohol.…”