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The purpose of the current study was to examine the relationship between multiple forms of behavioral and trait impulsivity and the externalizing symptoms of Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), conduct problems (CP), and callous-unemotional (CU) traits. Participants were 182 elementary school age children (142 boys and 40 girls) ranging in age from 5.6 to 12.5 years, recruited through a university-based ADHD clinic. Data showed that symptoms of ADHD were characterized by playing fewer trials on the Reward Dominance task, UPPS Urgency, and UPPS lack of perseverance. Symptoms of conduct problems were characterized by playing fewer trials on the Reward Dominance task and UPPS urgency. In contrast, callous-unemotional traits were characterized by only UPPS urgency and not by performance on either of the behavioral tasks. These results indicate some convergence in terms of trait impulsivity across externalizing syndromes, as well as divergence in terms of behavioral impulsivity and perseverance on tasks. The implications of these findings are discussed with particular emphasis on the importance of different facets of impulsivity characterizing different childhood externalizing syndromes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study examined the relations between impulsivity-related traits (as assessed by the UPPS-P Impulsive Behavior Scale) and aggressive behaviors. Results indicated that UPPS-P Lack of Premeditation and Sensation Seeking were important in predicting general violence. In contrast, UPPS-P Urgency was most useful in predicting intimate partner violence. To further explore relations between intimate partner violence and Urgency, a measure of autonomic response to pleasant and aversive stimuli and facets of Neuroticism from the NEO PI-R were used as control variables. Autonomic responsivity was correlated with intimate partner violence at the zero-order level, and predicted significant variance in intimate partner violence in regression equations. However, UPPS-P Urgency was able to account for unique variance in intimate partner violence, above and beyond measures of Neuroticism and arousal. Implications regarding the use of a multifaceted conceptualization of impulsivity in the prediction of different types of violent behavior are discussed. Aggr. Behav. 37:223-233, 2011. © 2011 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Low functioning MAOA genotypes have been reliably linked to increased reactive aggression, yet the psychological mechanisms of this effect remain largely unknown. The low functioning MAOA genotype's established link to diminished inhibition and greater reactivity to conditions of negative affect suggest that negative urgency, the tendency to act impulsively in the context of negative affect, may fill this mediating role. Such MAOA carriers may have higher negative urgency, which may in turn predict greater aggressive responses to provocation. To test these hypotheses, 277 female and male participants were genotyped for an MAOA SNP yet to be linked to aggression (rs1465108), and then reported their negative urgency and past aggressive behavior. We replicated the effect of the low functioning MAOA genotype on heightened aggression, which was mediated by greater negative urgency. These results suggest that disrupted serotonergic systems predispose individuals towards aggressive behavior by increasing impulsive reactivity to negative affect. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highlights • Effects of tonic sympathetic (SNS) activation on negative urgency were examined. • Higher SNS activity strengthened the association between neuroticism and urgency. • SNS also strengthened the link between neuroticism and hostile reactivity to stress. • Lower SNS strengthened link between neuroticism and shame reactivity to stress. • Hostile reactivity partially mediated the moderating effect of SNS on urgency. Abstract The tendency to engage in impulsive behavior in the context of negative affect, known as negative urgency, has emerged as a powerful transdiagnostic predictor of behavioral dysregulation. Although general vulnerability to negative affect (neuroticism) correlates with negative urgency, not all neurotic individuals engage in urgent behavior. Given prior experimental evidence that sympathetic nervous system (SNS) activation may promote emotion-related impulsivity, the present study examines tonic SNS activity as a moderator of the link between neuroticism and negative urgency. Participants (N = 194) completed measures of neuroticism and negative urgency, as well as a stress task. They also underwent assessment of tonic SNS activity (cardiac pre-ejection period). The link between neuroticism and negative urgency was strengthened for individuals with higher tonic SNS activity; however, this was not the case for behavioral performance on the task. A similar pattern was demonstrated for hostile reactivity to the stress task; increased hostile response partially explained the interaction between SNS activation and neuroticism on negative urgency. These findings suggest a potential facilitative role of the SNS in hostile reactivity and emotion-driven impulsivity among more neurotic individuals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]