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The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between laboratory behavioral measured impulsivity (using the Immediate and Delayed Memory Tasks) and suicidal attempt histories. Three groups of adults were recruited, those with either: no previous suicide attempts (Control, n = 20), only a single suicide attempt (Single, n = 20), or multiple suicidal attempts (Multiple, n = 10). As hypothesized, impulsive responses increased with the number of suicide attempts (Control < Single < Multiple). This study helps to demonstrate how laboratory behavioral measures of impulsivity can be used to discriminate groups based on suicidal histories among samples not currently exhibiting significant suicidal behaviors.

This study explores concurrent and criterion validity of a Continuous Performance Test, the Immediate and Delayed Memory Tasks (IMT/DMT). Concurrent validity was examined through comparison with collateral measures of impulsivity, while criterion validity was assessed by comparison of groups with differing levels of impulsive behavior, those with and without disruptive behavior disorders (DBD). DBDs in the DSM-IV include conduct disorder and oppositional defiant disorder, which are both largely characterized by impulsive behaviors. We compared group performance on the IMT/DMT and several collateral measures of impulsivity between adolescent controls (n = 22) and psychiatric inpatients with a DBD diagnosis (n = 22). Data collected indicated that (1) DBD patients emitted more commission errors; (2) commission errors, but not correct detections, were significantly correlated with collateral measures of impulsivity, and (3) in posthoc comparisons, those DBD patients with histories of physical fighting emitted the greatest number of commission errors, followed by DBD nonfighters, and then controls. Similar group performance differences were observed for collateral impulsivity measures. This study supports the use of commission error rates on the Immediate and Delayed Memory Tasks as a behavioral measure of impulsivity. With further development, objective measures like these may prove useful in clinical assessment procedures and in monitoring treatment outcome., Impulsivity, 'a predisposition toward rapid unplanned reactions to internal or external stimuli without regard to the negative consequences of these reactions to themselves or others,' is a core component of [...]

This study compared laboratory models of impulsive behavior in 60 women ages 18-40. Three groups (n = 20, each) were recruited: (1) normal controls, (2) women on probation/parole without childhood aggression (Fight-), and (3) women on probation/parole with childhood aggression (Fight+). Two types of impulsivity paradigms were compared: response-disinhibition/attentional [Immediate/Delayed Memory Task (IMT/DMT)] and delayed-reward [Single Key Impulsivity Paradigm (SKIP)] models. The Fight+ group performed more impulsively, responding with more commission errors (IMT/DMT) and shorter delay choices (SKIP) compared to either the Fight- or Control groups. Compared to the SKIP, the IMT and DMT tasks had larger effect sizes and a more orderly pattern of impulsive performance differences between groups. Women classified on the basis of childhood behavior (initiating physical aggression) are behaviorally distinct on laboratory measures of impulsiveness in adulthood., Impulsivity is a 'predisposition toward rapid, unplanned reactions to internal or external stimuli without regard to the negative consequences of these reactions to themselves or others' (Moeller, Barratt, Dougherty, Schmitz, [...]

To determine whether impulsivity was related to severity of drug use and treatment outcome, 50 cocaine dependent subjects underwent baseline measures of severity of current cocaine use and the Barratt Impulsiveness Scale (BIS-11). The hypothesis of the study was that there would be a significant correlation between impulsivity and cocaine use severity. As predicted, there was a significant correlation between BIS-11 total scores and self-reported average daily cocaine use as well as cocaine withdrawal symptoms. A subset of 35 patients underwent a 12-week double-blind placebo controlled trial of buspirone and group therapy. Subjects with high baseline impulsivity remained in the study a significantly shorter period than did subjects with lower baseline impulsivity. This study shows that impulsivity is a significant predictor of cocaine use and treatment retention, and suggests the need for targeting impulsivity in cocaine dependence treatment. Keywords: Cocaine; Impulsivity; Treatment; Substance abuse

A session of different impulsivity tasks is conducted amongst two groups of adolescents, hospitalized inpatients with disruptive behavior disorders(DBD) and controls. Results show that adolescents with DBD perform consistently with impulsivity in contrast to the control group.

Epidemiologic studies and laboratory research consistently link alcohol use with aggression. Not all people, however, exhibit increased aggression under the influence of alcohol. Recent research suggests that people with antisocial [...]

Continuous Performance Test (CPT) responding was compared between 15 adults with a history (childhood/adolescent) of Conduct Disorder (CD) and 15 normal controls. Of particular interest was whether response latencies and [...]

Objective: This study directly compared the effects of cumulative alcohol dosing procedure on aggression in both women and men. Method: Thirteen women and 13 men consumed three beverages I hour apart. There were two experimental conditions: (1) a placebo day, when subjects consumed three 240 ml beverages, each containing only 1 ml of alcohol; and (2) an alcohol day, when subjects consumed three 240 ml beverages, each containing 0.35 g/kg of 95% alcohol. Alcohol doses for women were reduced by 8%. Prior to beverage consumption, and periodically after consumption, subjects participated in 25-minute laboratory testing sessions designed to measure aggression. In this paradigm, subjects could earn points by responding on a button, or aggress toward a fictitious opponent who ostensibly subtracted earnings from them. Results: Both women and men showed an increase in aggressive responding after drinking alcohol but not placebo. As a group the greatest increases were observed after consuming the second alcohol drink (BAC = 0.08%). Aggressive responding, however, remained elevated for several hours after alcohol consumption. A post hoc analysis of the data indicated that subjects with high aggression levels under placebo conditions showed the greatest increases in aggression under alcohol conditions. Conclusions: These results indicate that at least under these conditions, alcohol does increase aggression in both women and men. The aggression-increasing effects of alcohol appear to be long-lasting and specific to individuals with the higher aggressive tendencies while sober. (J. Stud. Alcohol 60: 322-329, 1999), Numerous studies conducted throughout the years have indicated that alcohol is the drug most consistently linked to many types of aggressive and violent behaviors (Miczek et al., 1994). One major [...]

Self-reported alcohol use, Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), and Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI) scores were obtained during on-site interviews of 172 female applicants for paid participation in behavioral research. Mood symptomatology as reflected in BDI and BAI scores was analyzed as a function of alcohol use and other demographic variables. Women reporting even light alcohol use (up to three drinks per week) were significantly more symptomatic than abstinent women. In contrast, no significant differences in symptomatology were observed due to race or education level. This analysis extends previous findings of depressed mood in women (while sober) whose lifestyle includes moderate alcohol consumption and suggests that even light alcohol use is related to depressed and/or anxious mood., INTRODUCTION Extensive reports have documented comorbidity of clinically significant alcohol abuse or dependence and symptomatology of major depressive episodes, especially among psychiatric patients (1-3). In a previous report in this [...]