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ResultsZZAccording to the results, the K-BIS-11-R had an acceptable test-retest reliability and internal consistency reliability. In addition, the K-BIS-11-R total score and second-order subscale score showed significant correlation with Conners’ Adult attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder Rating Scale-Korean and Buss & Durkee Hostility Inventory. In addition, no significant difference was observed between the K-BIS-11-R total score and demographic variables. Thus, the K-BIS11-R total score was transformed to standard score.

Context Childhood trauma may predispose individuals to aggressive behavior, and both childhood trauma and aggressive behavior are associated with hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis dysregulation. Objective To determine whether there would be an interaction between genetic variation in FKBP5 and childhood trauma in predicting aggressive behavior. Design Cross-sectional study. Four FKBP5 single-nucleotide polymorphisms used in previous studies (rs3800373, rs9296158, rs1360780, and rs9470080) were genotyped. Three diplotypes were derived from 2 major putatively functional haplotypes regulating protein expression that were previously associated with glucocorticoid receptor sensitivity. Setting Penitentiary District of Abruzzo-Molise in central Italy. Participants A population of 583 male Italian prisoners recruited between 2005 and 2008. Main Outcome Measures A comprehensive analysis of aggression and impulsivity was undertaken using the Brown-Goodwin Lifetime History of Aggression (BGHA) questionnaire, the Buss-Durkee Hostility Inventory (BDHI), and the Barratt Impulsiveness Scale (BIS). A history of childhood trauma was investigated with the Childhood Trauma Questionnaire. The interaction between the FKBP5 diplotypes and childhood trauma on measures of aggression was analyzed. Analyses were replicated with a second behavioral measure of aggression: violent behavior in jail. Individual single-nucleotide polymorphism analysis was performed. Results Childhood trauma had a significant effect on BGHA and BDHI scores but not on BIS scores. We observed a significant influence of the FKBP5 high-expression diplotype on both a lifetime history of aggressive behavior (BGHA) (P = .012) and violent behavior in jail (P = .025) but only in individuals exposed to childhood trauma, in particular to physical abuse. No main effect of the FKBP5 diplotypes was observed. Conclusion These data suggest that childhood trauma and variants in the FKBP5 gene may interact to increase the risk of overt aggressive behavior.

IntroductionImpulsivity and decision making are impaired in cocaine addicts. However, most studies were performed in the USA.ObjectivesTo assess impulsivity and decision making in a sample of French cocaine addicts.MethodsSubjects40 current cocaine addicts and 21 control subjects with no history of drug abuse were compared using the Barratt Impulsiveness Scale (BIS) and Iowa Gambling Task (IGT). Subjects from the cocaine addicted group were evaluated for cocaine craving with the Obessive Compulsive Cocaine Scale (OCCS), and for their pattern of use. Statistical analysis: The mean scores of impulsivity and decision making were compared in the two groups (Mann-Whitney U test). In the group of 40 cocaine addicts, clinical factors that could be associated with high impulsivity and poor decision making scores were tested (Spearman’ s rho, Chi-square and Mann-Whitney U tests).ResultCompared to controls, cocaine addicts had a higher impulsivity score (BIS: 72 ± 11 vs 57 ± 8, U = 138, p < .001) and had more disadvantageous choices on the decision making test (IGT) (advantageous minus disadvantageous choices -4 ± 19 vs 24 ± 35, U = 234, p = .005). There was a significant correlation between high impulsivity scores on the BIS and high cocaine craving as well as heavy cocaine use (more than 4 times a week). No correlation was found between poor decision making and high craving or frequent cocaine use.DiscussionThe discrepancy between impulsivity and poor decision making in cocaine addicts is discussed.

IntroductionPolysubstance dependent alcoholics (PSA) show a high risk of relapse. Decision-making deficits might be predictive of relapse so that high-risk relapse PSA are easily identified and novel more effective treatment interventions can be found.ObjectivesTo evaluate the effect of decision-making as measured by neurocognitive measures like the Iowa Gambling Task (IGT) and the Delay Discounting Task (DDT) on short-term relapse in PSA. The possible confounding effects of personality disorders (PD) are also examined.MethodsForty-one PSA following an inpatient addiction treatment were questioned about their substance use. After two weeks of stable abstinence they performed self-report questionnaires (Barratt Impulsiveness Scale - Sensitivity to Punishment and Sensitivity to Reward Questionnaires) and neurocognitive measures of decision-making (DDT - IGT). Thirty-seven PSA were retrieved three months after treatment completion and questioned about their current substance use. Thirty-one healthy controls (HC) were also asked to perform the self-report questionnaires and neurocognitive measures.ResultsAll PSA showed decision-making deficits in comparison to the HC. Abstinence was associated with better IGT performances, an older age at onset, and a greater likelihood of a cluster C PD.ConclusionIGT performances but not DDT performances are associated with short-term relapse in PSA. It is assumed that the processes involved in the DDT are more important to the initiation of the addiction while the processes involved in the IGT are more important to the maintenance of and the relapse in the addiction.

Background and ObjectivesWith the Cyberspace's exponential growth of influence questions arise about its mental impacts. The presented study examines the question whether the dependent use of the Internet can be understood as an impulse control disorder, an addiction or as a symptom of other psychiatric conditions.MethodsInternet dependent patients seeking for psychiatric assistance and fulfilling the criteria for pathological Internet use (PIU) were examined with the Structured Clinical Interview according to DSM-IV (SCID), and a variety of questionnaires including the Barratt Impulsiveness Scale (BIS), the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) and the Dissociative Experience Scale (DES). The patient group was compared to a matched group of healthy controls.ResultsThe adult patient-group consisted of 25 subjects, 76% male, with a mean age of 29.36 years. Average time spent in Cyberspace was 6.47 h/d, mostly in online-role-playing games. According to SCID I and BDI, 19 patients (76%) suffered from a depressive syndrome, with 10 cases of major depressive disorder (40%) and 8 cases of adjustment disorder with depression (32%). Six patients (24%) suffered from a comorbid anxiety disorder. Compared to controls, the patient group presented significantly higher levels of depression (BDI), impulsivity (BIS) and dissociation (DES).ConclusionsPIU shares common psychopathological features and comorbidities with substance related disorders. Therefore, it might be seen as a diagnostic entity in itself within a spectrum of behavioral and substance dependencies. Especially Internet role play may contain an addictive potential for adolescents and adults with subclinical psychopathology.

IntroductionImpulsiveness is considered to be an important symptom of many psychiatric disorders and is often treated as one of the diagnostic criteria. Relationship between impulsivity and severity of depressive symptoms in alcohol-dependent individuals hasn’t been investigated yet, although both are considered to be important risk factors of relapse.ObjectivesThe aim of this study was to analyze relationships between depressive symptoms and level of behavioral as well as cognitive impulsiveness among alcohol-dependent patients.MethodsBy means of Barratt's Impulsiveness Scale and stop-signal task the level of impulsivity among 304 alcohol-dependent patients was measured. Stop-signal task was used as an independent, manipulation-free method of estimating the level of behavioral impulsiveness, and the Barratt's Impulsiveness Scale - as a self report measure of global as well as cognitive impulsivity. Patients were asked to fill in a questionnaire to asses depressive symptoms (BDI, BHS).ResultsThe statistical analysis revealed significant association between impulsiveness and severity of depressive symptoms. Individuals with higher scores in BDI scale were more impulsive in Barratt Impulsiveness Scale (r = 0,473; p < 0,0005), whereas patients with higher scores in BHS appeared to be more impulsive in both: stop-signal task (r = 0,21; p = 0,001) and BIS (r = 0,281; p < 0,0005). Depressive symptoms in both measures correlated most with indicators of attention impulsivity in BIS (r = 0,541; p < 0,0005 for BDI and r = 0,312; p < 0,0005 for BHS).ConclusionHigh level of impulsiveness may be treated as an element of depressive disorder in alcohol dependent patients.

Background and objectivesPathological gamblers (PG) are often compared to substance dependent patients. Analogous to research into relapse into chemical addictions, a longitudinal outcome design was created to evaluate the impact of impulsivity measures on one-year relapse of pathological gamblers.MethodsTwenty-two PG without comorbid substance use disorders and 31 healthy controls (HC) were compared on measures of impulsivity (Baratt Impulsiveness Scale, Delay Discounting Task, Iowa Gambling Task, Sensitivity to Punishment and Sensitivity to Reward Questionnaires, Stroop Color Word Task). The associations between these impulsivity measures and one-year relapse of pathological gambling were examined.ResultsPG_Abstainers (N = 9) had a later age of onset and gambled for a shorter period than PG_Non-abstainers (N = 13). The PG groups did not differ in impulsivity measures. Healthy controls and PG differed on the Barratt Impulsiveness Scale and the Stroop Color Word Task, but not on the other impulsivity measures.DiscussionThe present data show that PG are not always impulsive and that gambling histories, rather than impulsivity measures, predict one-year relapse.

Context: Dysfunction and deficits in the structure of the anterior cingulate cortex have been reported in borderline personality disorder (BPD). To our knowledge, there is only 1 published study to date investigating anterior cingulate cortex metabolism in subjects with BPD and co-occurring attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder using proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy. Impulsivity is a key feature of BPD and can be related to anterior cingulate cortex function. Objective: To investigate whether anterior cingulate cortex metabolism may be altered in BPD and correlates with BPD pathology. Design: Cross-sectional proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy study. Setting: Department of Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy, Central Institute of Mental Health, Mannheim, Germany. Participants and Patients: Thirty unmedicated female subjects meeting DSM-IV criteria for BPD and 31 age-matched healthy female control participants. Main Outcome Measures: Neurometabolite concentrations in the anterior cingulate cortex and correlation of glutamate levels with self-reported measures of impulsivity and severity of borderline symptoms. Results: Significantly higher levels of glutamate in the anterior cingulate cortex were found in subjects with BPD as compared with healthy controls. A positive correlation between glutamate concentration and the Barratt Impulsiveness Scale total score as well as between glutamate concentration and the subscore for cognitive impulsivity were observed irrespective of diagnosis. We also found a positive correlation between glutamate concentrations and dissociation as well as between glutamate concentration and subscores of the Borderline Symptom List in the patient group. Conclusions: Our results support the hypothesis that higher glutamate concentration in the anterior cingulate cortex is associated with both severity of BPD symptoms and subjective impulsivity ratings, the latter independent of BPD. Further studies should confirm the association between enhanced glutamate concentration in the anterior cingulate cortex and behavioral measures of impulsivity.

ObjectivesAlthough numerous studies agree that bipolar patients demonstrate extensive cognitive deficits, it is still unclear to which extent these impairments persist across different mood states, including euthymia. Given that the emotional and cognitive processes are closely intertwined, we aimed to examine selective attention, cognitive inhibition, and social cognition within different emotional context in the group of remitted bipolar outpatients.Methods80 euthymic bipolar outpatients and 66 healthy volunteers matched for sex, age and education participated in the study. Internal State Scale and Barratt Impulsiveness Scale were used to assess self-reported affective states and trait impulsivity. Computerised versions of Colour-Word Stroop, Emotional Stroop, Affective Go/NoGo and Ekman Recognition of Facial Expression task were administered to assess selective attention, inhibition of cognitive control and social cognition.ResultsSeveral cognitive deficits in selective attention, inhibition of cognitive control and social cognition tasks have been identified in the group of euthymic bipolar outpatients. They revealed worse recognition of negative, positive and neutral affect than controls. Besides cognitive disruptions which were reflected in longer reaction times and more erroneous performance to different emotional stimuli and in different emotional contexts, also trait impulsivity was considerably elevated in the group of bipolar euthymic outpatients.ConclusionsBipolar outpatients in our study demonstrated relatively marked impairments in cognitive functioning within different emotional contexts also during the euthymia. Applied neuropsychological inventory proved as useful tool for assessing specific cognitive impairments in bipolar mood disorder, and could contribute to more effective diagnosing and treatment of patients.

Aims:It is now well known that unaffected first-degree relatives of patients with alcohol disorder have electrophysiological abnormalities (less P3 amplitude). These abnormalities are associated with higher scores in impulsivity self-rating scales and are assumed to reflect central nervous system disinhibition and/or hyperexcitability. However very much less is known about the performance of this population in neuropsychological tests assessing executive functioning and in particular the inhibition process.Method:Thirty-five first-degree relatives of patients with alcohol dependence were compared to thirty-five healthy controls, matched in terms of age, gender and education level. They completed a self-rating scale of impulsiveness (Barratt Impulsiveness Scale) and a battery of neuropsychological tests. The test battery included the Wisconsin Card Sorting Test, a measure of overall executive functioning, and two performance measures of inhibition process (a Stroop task and a Go-No Go task).Results:As expected, the Barratt Impulsiveness Scale showed differences between the two groups, with first-degree relatives having higher overall scores and increased scores in the non-planning subscale. Results from neuropsychological testing indicated significant differences among the three tasks (WCST, Stroop task and Go-No Go).Conclusion:Our findings are consistent with the view that unaffected first-degree relatives of patients with alcohol dependence show decrements in executive functioning and inhibition process. Studies are underway to identify genes associated with the underlying predisposition involved in disinhibitory disorders in this population.

Aim:1.Whether patients with personality disorders of borderline and antisocial type have a specific pattern of neurocognitive deficits.2.Whether impulsivity measured with clinical rating scales is related with performance on neuropsychological tests of risk taking which is sensitive to ventrofrontal cortex lesions.Method:20 patients and their age, sex and IQ matched controls participated in the study. Each patient and control was administered validated clinical rating scales in order to:1.Ascertain the diagnosis with respect to DSM-IV criteria (Structured Clinical Interview for DSM: Personality Disorder.2.Obtain a measure of clinical impulsivity (Barratt Impulsiveness scale).3.Ascertain the presence of heritable personality traits (Dimensional Aspects of Personality Pathology Disorder-Basic Questionnaire).4.Exclude other major psychiatric disorders (Clinical Psychopathology Rating Scale).They were administered National Adult Reading Test (NART) to estimate IQ.A battery of neuropsychological tests of memory and executive function specifically sensitive to frontal (dorsal or ventral) or temporal lobe damage were administered from Cambridge Automated Neuropsychological Test battery (CANTAB).Results:On Neuropsychological testing patients fared poorly on tests sensitive to planning and risk taking compared to controls. Patients had high mean scores on Barratt impulsiveness scale. the high scores were associated with performance on Tower of London, Bechara test and paired associated learning. Impulsivity was associated with anxiousness and rejection traits of DAPP-BQ. There was a co-relation between some basic dispositional traits of DAPP-BQ with performance on Bechara, Gambling and Paired Associated Learning tests.Conclusion:Personality disordered patients show broad range of neurocognitive deficits on test s sensitive to frontal cortex.

The term ‘decision making’ indicates the aspects of executive functions related to the ability to modulate the reward and punishment perception, in order to operate advantageous choices.Subjects with alcoholism exhibit poor decision making and high level of impulsivity.This study assesses the relationship between decision making ability, as measured by Iowa Gambling Task (IGT), and impulsivity and others temperamental and character traits in a long-term abstinent alcohol dependent sample.30 abstinent alcohol dependent subjects, referred to Drug Addiction Unit of National Health Service of L'Aquila were assessed using IGT, the Barratt Impulsiveness Scale 11-item version (BIS-11) and the Temperament and Character Inventory - 125 items (TCI-125). The mean age was 44.53 (8.66 SD) years and educational level was 9.03 years (2.52).15 control subjects were recruited from general population and assessed with IGT only (age 41.38±11.10; educational level 12.23±3.44).The clinical and the control samples significantly differ in their performance on the IGT, the former making disadvantageous choices in the task leading to lower scores. We found only a significant correlation between IGT total score and the BIS factor Non-Planning Impulsivity.The alcoholic subjects, although in a abstinent status, show difficulties to learn the task strategies and/or earn from experience to orient toward an advantageous choice pattern, supporting the hypothesis of a decision making impairment.The lack of correlation with impulsivity factors and personality traits supports the results of other studies concluding that, at dimensional level, decision making abilities may be a distinct construct.

ObjectiveaaPersonality dimension is considered as a risk factor of depression. This study was to compare aggression, impulsivity, hopelessness, and TCI (temperament and character dimensions) between patients with major depressive disorder (MDD) and normal controls. MethodsaaA total of 56 MDD patients and the same number of normal controls who were matched for age, gender, and education were recruited. All subjects completed the following questionnaires; Aggression Questionnaire (AQ), Beck Hopelessness Scale (BHS), Barratt Impulsiveness Scale, 11th Version (BIS-11), and Temperament and Character Inventory (TCI). ResultsaaMDD patients were significantly higher scores in anger, hostility of AQ, BHS, motor impulsivity of BIS-11, and Harm Avoidances (HA) of TCI with all subscales of HA than normal controls, whereas novelty seeking 1 (NS1) (Exploratory of NS), Reward Dependence (RD) with RD3 (Attachment) · RD4 (Dependence), Self-Directedness (SD) with most subscales of SD, Cooperativeness (CO), and ST3 (Spiritual Acceptance) showed lower scores than normal controls. Moreover, BHS and HA, BIS and NS showed moderate positive correlation in MDD patients, while BHS and SD, HA and SD were negatively correlated. ConclusionaaThe present study showed unique clinical features, especially personality dimensions of patients with MDD. Our results could be applicable to suggest treatment process and to predict one’s prognosis for depression in that psychological properties are important for drug compliance and treatment response.

Dysregulation of the central serotonergic (5-HT) system has been associated with personality disorders and with suicidality, impulsive aggression, and irritability utilizing CSF 5-HIM and fenfluramine challenge test, which is not selective for any serotonin receptor subtype as a serotonergic measure. A dose response study of ipsapirone (1PS), a 5-HT-1A agonist, has shown that it is a useful probe of 5-HT1A function in normal subjects when temperature and cortisol are used as response variables. To preliminarily investigate the potential usefulness of IPS as a possible 5-HT-subtype specific probe in personality disorder patients, we did a pilot study evaluating the response to IPS in patients and normal controls (NC). Twenty mg of IPS was administered orally in a placebo-controlled double-blind design to l0 NC and 9 patients with DSM-III-R personality disorder. Temperature, CORT, and prolactin (PRL) levels were measured prior to IPS/placebo administration and at half-hour intervals over the next 3 hours. IPS significantly reduced temperature in all subjects (F[ 1,21 ] ~ 13.3, p < 0.01 ) and increased CORT levels (F[ 1,22] 9.27, p < 0.01). There was no diagnosis by drug interaction in either of the two measures. The temperature response to IPS correlated inversely with PRL response to fenfluramine (r 0.82, p < 0.01 ) and positively with the Barratt Impulsiveness Scale (Risk Taking subscale; r 0.86, p < 0.01). Although this sample size was too small to draw any definitive conclusions, temperature and possibly CORT response to IPS and their clinical correlates may be useful measures in future studies of impulsivity in personality disordered patients.

The association between impulsivity and sport preference was investigated in three Australian S samples. In each case, responses to the Telic Dominance Scale (TDS) and the Barratt Impulsiveness Scale (BIS) were compared across contrasting groups. The first study involved high level performers of ‘endurance’ vs ‘explosive’ sports. A second approach explored leisure time sports that were exclusively performed by extremely paratelic dominant students of human movement (baseball, cricket, touch football, surfing, windsurfing). A validating study of the ‘paratelic’ and ‘non-paratelic’ sports recruited students from various university courses, other than human movement education. Results supported the idea that impulsivity is associated with preference for ‘explosive’ and ‘paratelic’ sports. However, results from the validating study indicated that extrinsic ‘barrier’, due to sex-related social norms, may prevent some females from fulfilling their wish to perform such sports. In contrast, intrinsic ‘barriers’ related to a lifestyle of high planning orientation and serious-mindedness (TDS) as well as low cognitive impulsivity (BIS), were significant for those males who did not fulfill their wish to perform a ‘paratelic’ sport.

The present study was conducted to investigate effects of arousal avoidanceand impulsivity on preference for and actual participation in 'risk' and 'safe' sports. Volunteer undergraduate students (N = 181) completed the Telic Dominance Scale (TDS) and the Barratt Impulsiveness Scale (BIS). Subjects were also asked to list three winter and three summer sports (a) that, given a free choice, they would have liked to participate in and (b) in which they actually participated. Those subjects choosing and performing 'risk' and 'safe' sports were the focus of this investigation. The results showed that subjects who opted for risk sports given a free choice, and subjects who actually performed risk sports in summer and in winter, scored significantly lower on the TDS arousal avoidance subscale than those choosing safe sports. A significantly lower score on the TDS serious-minded subscale was also obtained for those subjects who performed risk sports in winter. No significant results were obtained from subjects' scores on subscales of the Barratt Impulsiveness Scale. Language: en

The relationship between impulsiveness subtraits assessed by the Barratt Impulsiveness Scale (BIS-10), the trait anxiety subscale of the State-Trait Personality Inventory (STPI), and the topographic distribution of visual N100 augmenting/reducing (AR) was examined. Topographic event-related potential (ERP) data were collected from an array of 14 electrodes covering the left side of the head while subjects counted the total number of light flashes presented at two different but equiprobable intensities. Principal components analysis of the ERP data yielded a factor accounting for 13.9% of the total variance around the grand mean waveform that corresponded to the N100 wave clearly visible in the raw waveforms. For each subject by scalp locus combination, an AR score was computed by subtracting the factor score associated with the bright flashes from the factor score associated with the dim flashes. The correlations between AR scores and scores on the BIS-10 cognitive impulsiveness subscale were significant (P

This study examined the nature of the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI) extraversion-introversion (El) and judging-perceiving (JP) subscales. The MBTI, Barratt Impulsiveness Scale (BIS-5), and the EASI-III were given to 185 subjects. All subscale scores for each instrument were entered into a principal component factor analysis with orthogonal rotation. Results support the MBTI-EI scale as a measure of sociability and the MBTI-JP scale as a measure of impulsivity. Convergent and divergent validity of these scales was provided as expected, although the constructs differ from those cited in the MBTI manual (Myers, 1962). Implications are discussed.

Current cocaine treatments may be enhanced with a better understanding of the underlying mechanisms that contribute to the onset and maintenance of the disease, such as life stress and impulsivity. Life stress and impulsivity have previously been studied independently as contributors to drug use, and the current study expands upon past research by examining how these factors interact with one another. The aim of the current study was to evaluate the role of life stress in predicting impulsivity in a non-treatment seeking cocaine-dependent sample (N = 112). Analyses revealed that trait impulsivity (as measured by the Barratt Impulsiveness Scale) was associated with education (r = −3.09, p < 0.01), as those who had higher educational attainment also reported lower rates of trait impulsivity. In addition, those over the age of 30 demonstrated lower impulsivity in decision-making (as measured by delay discounting) than those under 30 (t = 2.21, p = 0.03). Overall exposure to life stress was not significantly correlated to either aspect of impulsivity. However several specific life stressors were significantly related to greater impulsivity including having been put up for adoption or in foster care (t = −2.96, p < 0.01), and having a child taken away against their will (t = −2.68, p = 0.01). These findings suggest that age and education relate to impulsivity; and that while an overall compilation of life stress scores was not related to impulsivity, specific types of stress related to either being taken away from a parent or having a child taken away were. Future studies should assess these constructs longitudinally to restrict response bias.

Trait impulsivity has been suggested as a risk factor for weight gain. However, it is implausible that a construct that does not cover energy intake or expenditure affects fat mass directly. Instead, it is likely that eating-related variables mediate the effect of impulsivity on body mass. In the current study, a serial mediation model tested two eating-related variables (trait food craving and perceived self-regulatory success in weight regulation) as mediators of the relationship between trait impulsivity and body mass. Participants (n=432, 88% female, 79% students) completed the Barratt Impulsiveness Scale - short form, the Food Cravings Questionnaire-Trait-reduced, and the Perceived Self-Regulatory Success in Dieting Scale (PSRS), in addition to providing sociodemographic and anthropometric data. Trait impulsivity did not correlate with body mass index (BMI), but was indirectly related to BMI via food cravings and PSRS scores. Specifically, higher impulsivity predicted more frequent food cravings, which in turn predicted lower perceived self-regulatory success in eating and weight regulation, which in turn predicted higher BMI. Findings suggest possible mechanisms that mediate the association between impulsivity and BMI. Importantly, they show that impulsivity can indirectly affect BMI via eating-related variables, even in the absence of a total effect. Longitudinal studies are needed that support these assumed causal directions.

The concepts, impulsivity and locus of control, conceptually appear to be related. Individuals who view their behavior as the result of face or chance (external locus of control) may act wichouc thinking and take greater risks than their peers who feel they are responsible for what happens to them (internal locus of control). Impulsivity is defined as the speed of response to impulses or motivational states, risk taking, acting without thinking, and the inability to plan ahead (Barratt & Parton, 1983). Locus of control is conceptualized as the extent to which individuals feel in control of their own behavior or events occurring to them (internal control) as compared to being under the influence of fate, chance, luck, or other individuals (external control) (Lefcourt, 1982). Individuals with poor impulse control, namely, those who respond hastily to impulses without thinking or planning, conceptually also appear to be characterized as having an external locus of control. Ayabe (1979) in a review of the literacure found no significant relationship between reflection-impulsivity and internal-external locus of control in samples of children, except in a study by Finch (1974) of a sample of emotionally disturbed children. The purpose of this research was to examine if there was a relationship between impulsivity and locus of control in a sample of normal adults and to determine if the education of the subjects was associated with these results. The sample consisted of 359 randomly selected adults who responded anonymously to the Barratt Impulsiveness Scale (Barratt & Patcon, 1983) and the Nowidci-Suiddand

Individual differences in traits such as impulsivity and processing of risk and reward have been linked to decision making and may underlie divergent decision making strategies. It is, however, unclear whether and how far individual differences in these characteristics jointly influence decision making. Here, we aimed to investigate the roles of skin conductance responses, a psychophysiological marker of risk processing and impulsivity, as assessed by the Barratt Impulsiveness Scale 11 on decision making. Forty-six healthy participants performed a modified version of the Balloon Analog Risk Task (BART), where reward and explosion risk are manipulated separately. Participants are informed about whether they play a high versus low reward and high versus low explosion risk condition. The exact risk and reward contingencies are, however, unknown to participants. Participants were less risk-taking under high, compared to low explosion risk and under high reward, compared to low reward on the modified BART, which served as a validation of the paradigm. Risk-taking was negatively related to skin conductance responses under high explosion risk. This relationship was primarily driven by individuals with relatively high levels of impulsivity. However, impulsivity alone was not found to be related to decision making on the modified BART. These results extend evidence that skin conductance responses may guide decision making in situations, where participants are informed about risk level (high vs. low), which might be differentially moderated by different levels of impulsivity.

Impulsivity has been suggested to be associated with obesity. However, findings are fairly inconsistent and it appears that only specific facets of impulsivity are related to overeating and body mass. In this study, relationships between scores on a short form of the Barratt Impulsiveness Scale and body mass index were examined in a heterogeneous sample (N = 3073). After controlling for age and sex, only scores on attentional and motor impulsivity, but not non-planning impulsivity, were predictive of higher body mass index. The magnitude of these relationships, however, was very small. Thus, future research needs to address possible mediators and moderators of the relationship between impulsivity and body mass in order to explain why only specific facets of impulsivity appear to play a role in obesity and under which circumstances heightened impulsivity levels are associated with higher body weight.

Background: Often mental disorders are serious problems concerning psychological well-being. They require comprehensive and specialized psychiatric and psychological help, but there are no public methods of controlling your mental state. The aim of study was the evaluation of the utility of Liebowitz Social Anxiety Scale and Barratt Impulsiveness Scale in the diagnosis of social anxiety, impulsivity and depression. Subjects and methods: The study included 85 persons. The study group had 34 patients treated in an open ward of the Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy of Medical University of Silesia in Katowice. The control group included 51 persons without mental disorders. Three self-rating questionnaires were used: Beck Depression Inventory, Barratt Impulsiveness Scale and Liebowitz Social Anxiety Scale. Statistica v10 Statsoft software was used for statistical analysis. Results: The analyzed groups had significant differences in terms of Beck Scale (U Mann-Whitney test p=0.000001). Average score in study group: 22.94±12.50; in control group: 7.15±6.44. Groups had significant differences in terms of Liebowitz Scale (U test Mann-Whitney test, p=0.000164). Average score in the study group: 60.41± 30.30; in control group: 35.01±23.94. Groups had significant differences in terms of Barratt Scale (t-student test p=0.000601). Average in study group: 66.35±9,49; in control group: 59.54±7.87. Significant positive correlation was observed between the results of Beck Scale and Liebowitz Scale (r=0.64465). Correlation was not observed between the results of the Liebowitz and Barrat (r=0.12091 and Beck and Barrat (r=0.21482). Conclusions: The intensity of the Liebowitz Social Anxiety Scale is directly proportional to the severity of depression according to the Beck Depression Inventory. The degree of impulsivity by Barrat Impulsiveness Scale does not correlate with the level of depression according to Beck Depression Inventory. The analyzed scales are relevant in the diagnosis of mental disorders.

Attentional bias has been defined as the propensity of a person to allocate selective attention automatically to salient cues (Field and Powell, 2007). In the case of smoking, this bias implies that smokers are implicitly attracted by smoking-related stimuli, which produce behavioral, memory, and emotional effects (Volkow et al., 2006; Giardini et al., 2009). In more detail, scientific evidence pointed out that smoking is strongly supported by attentional bias that activates craving and urgency to smoke a cigarette. However, poor and conflicting data are available regarding the role of this cognitive bias on former smokers. The main aim of this study is to explore the occurrence of the attentional bias on of both current and former smokers, also with the aim to identify associations with behavioral, psychological and cognitive characteristic of participants. We collected data on 245 current, volunteers (male 50.6%; female 49.4%) aged 54.81 (SD = 14.352, range = 18-63), divided in current smokers (98), former smokers (102) and non-smokers (45). A combination of neuropsychology tests (Emotional Smoke Stroop Task and Go/no-Go task), and standardized questionnaires [Behavioral Inhibition System-Behavioral Approach System (BIS-BAS), Fagerstrom Test for Nicotine Dependence (FTND), Barratt Impulsiveness Scale, Motivational questionnaire] were used to assess the attentional bias, psychological variables, and smoking-related characteristics. Responses at the Emotional Smoke Stroop task revealed that current and former smokers are actually slower than non-smokers are when facing smoking cues, while performances at other Stroop conditions and at the Go/no-Go task are not statistically different. These results confirmed the occurrence of the attentional bias in current smokers, and above all points out that the same effect is present in former smokers. We found only small and selective correlations between attentional bias and psychological variables (e.g., impulsiveness and inhibition). In particular, impulsivity is not directly associated with the AB intensity. Also, smoking characteristics (e.g., years of smoking and dependence level) and the length of the period of abstinence do not seem to modulate implicit cognition of smoking cue. Our data support the idea that the attentional bias may be considered relevant in sustaining smoking and favoring relapse.

Background Impulsivity as a tendency to act quickly without considering future consequences has been proposed as a dimensional factor in bipolar disorder. It can be measured using behavioral tasks and self-report questionnaires. Previous findings revealed patients to show worse performance on at least one behavioral measure of impulsivity. Additionally, self-reported impulsivity seems to be higher among bipolar patients, both parameters being possibly associated with a more severe course of illness. In this study, our primary aim was to investigate the relationship between these two constructs of impulsivity among bipolar patients. Methods A total of 40 euthymic patients with bipolar disorder (21 female, 22 Bipolar I) and 30 healthy controls were recruited for comprehensive neuropsychological assessment. To assess inhibition control as a behavioral measure of impulsivity, the Stroop Color and Word Test (Stroop) was used. Additionally, both groups completed the Barratt Impulsiveness Scale (BIS) as a self-report of impulsivity. To compare the groups’ performance on the Stroop and ratings on the BIS, the non-parametric Mann–Whitney U test was used. Within the bipolar group, we additionally examined the possibility of an association between Stroop performance and BIS total scores using Pearson’s Correlation r. Results Patients and controls differed significantly on the Stroop and BIS, with patients performing worse on the Stroop and scoring higher on the BIS. However, there was no association between the Stroop and BIS within the bipolar group. As an exploratory analysis, a positive correlation between Stroop performance and number of episodes was found. Further, we detected a statistical trend in the direction of poorer Stroop performance among patients treated with polypharmacy. Conclusions Both difficulties with behavioral inhibition and self-reported impulsivity were observed to be higher in bipolar patients than controls in the current study. However, within the patient group we did not observe an association between patients’ behavioral performance and self-report. This indicates that the parameters likely constitute distinct, dimensional factors of bipolar disorder. In future research, studies with larger samples should investigate which of the two markers constitutes the better marker for the illness and is more suitable to differentiate the most severe patients.

Background Over the last few decades, research regarding the age of onset of schizophrenia and its relationship with other clinical variables has been incorporated into clinical practices. However, reports of potential differences in demographic and clinical characteristics between early- and adult-onset schizophrenia spectrum disorders have been controversial. Thus, this study aims to assess differences in demographic and clinical characteristics correlated with age of illness onset in schizophrenia spectrum disorders. Methods Data were collected from 104 patients with schizophrenia and schizoaffective disorder. Diagnosis was made via structured clinical interviews. Assessments of psychiatric symptoms and social and global functioning were completed. The effect of age of onset on demographic and clinical variables was examined using correlation analyses and binary logistic regression models. We chose 17 years of age as the cut-off for early-onset schizophrenia spectrum disorders based on a recent clinical consensus. We further investigated differences in the severity of psychopathology and other clinical variables between the early- and adult-onset groups. Results The binary logistic regression analysis showed that age of onset was significantly related to the cognitive component of the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS) (odds ratio, OR = 0.58; 95% confidence interval, CI = 0.872-0.985; p < 0.001) and Barratt Impulsiveness Scale (BIS) score (OR = 0.94; 95% CI = 0.447-0.744; p = 0.015). Patients with early onset of schizophrenia spectrum disorders had significantly greater levels of cognitive impairment and higher impulsivity. There were significant differences between several demographic and clinical variables, including the negative symptom component of the PANSS (p < 0.001), cognitive component of the PANSS (p < 0.001), BIS score (p = 0.05), and psychological domain of quality of life (QOL) (p = 0.05), between patients with early- and adult-onset schizophrenia spectrum disorders, having controlled for the effect of the current age and duration of illness. Conclusions Our findings support the hypothesis of an influence of age of onset on illness course in patients with schizophrenia spectrum disorders. This finding may in fact be part of a separate domain worthy of investigation for the development of interventions for early symptoms of schizophrenia.

Introduction Emotion dysregulation and impulsivity are considered an hallmark of personality pathology (Livesley & Jang, 2000), even though research has mainly regarded Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD; e.g., Linehan, 1993). Recently, some scholars proposed that facets of emotion dysregulation and impulsivity are likely to be associated with different PD traits across all clusters (Garofalo et al., 2014; Sarkar & Adshead, 2006), highlighting significant association with all PDs included in the DSM-5 (APA, 2013). Objectives We sought to expand extant research exploring whether also PDs not included in the DSM nosography, yet clinically relevant and suggested for future research, were associated with facets of emotion dysregulation. Aims In a community sample, we tested the unique associations between facets of emotion dysregulation and impulsivity with traits of 3 PDs Not Otherwise Specified: Sadistic PD, Depressive PD, and Passive-aggressive PD. Methods We recruited 399 community-dwelling participants (mean age= 37.91; 56.6% male). They were administered the Difficulties in Emotion Regulation Scale (DERS; Gratz & Roemer, 2004), the Barratt Impulsiveness Scale (BIS-11, Patton et al., 1995) and the Millon Clinical Multiaxial Inventory (MCMI-III; Millon, 2006). Results Multiple regression analyses showed that different facets of emotion dysregulation were associated with all PD traits considered. Further, impulsivity accounted for a significant amount of additional variance in Sadistic and Passive-aggressive features above and beyond emotion dysregulation. Conclusions Emotion dysregulation and impulsivity seemed to confirm their role as relevant features of personality pathology across different forms of PDs.

The current confused status of the research on impulsivity may be attributed to the lack of precise definitions, the reliance of most operationalizations on a single index, and inconsistency among different measures of the construct. Empirical measurements of impulsivity by self-reports, rating scales, or performance tasks suggest that the instruments employed measure aspects that have very little in common, a finding that throws serious doubts on the validity of the construct and implies a need for further research. To clarify this topic, we applied four different measures of impulsivity to 46 7th-grade (12 to 13 years old) schoolchildren. The children were rated by their teachers on an impulsivity behavior scale and were administered Kagan's Matching Familiar Figures Test, Version MFF-20, and two self-report forms, the Eysenck Impulsiveness Questionnaire, and the Barratt Impulsiveness Scale. Although the results confirmed the lack of convergence among these measures, high latencies on matching were associated with the cognitive aspect of the self-report scales. Treating impulsivity as a multidimensional construct is discussed.

Strong bottom-up impulses and weak top-down control may interactively lead to overeating and, consequently, weight gain. In the present study, female university freshmen were tested at the start of the first semester and again at the start of the second semester. Attentional bias toward high- or low-calorie food-cues was assessed using a dot-probe paradigm and participants completed the Barratt Impulsiveness Scale. Attentional bias and motor impulsivity interactively predicted change in body mass index: motor impulsivity positively predicted weight gain only when participants showed an attentional bias toward high-calorie food-cues. Attentional and non-planning impulsivity were unrelated to weight change. Results support findings showing that weight gain is prospectively predicted by a combination of weak top-down control (i.e. high impulsivity) and strong bottom-up impulses (i.e. high automatic motivational drive toward high-calorie food stimuli). They also highlight the fact that only specific aspects of impulsivity are relevant in eating and weight regulation.

Background Suicide is the second leading cause of death among 15- to 29-year-olds in China, and 60 % of suicidal patients have a history of depression. Previous brain imaging studies have shown that depression and suicide may be associated with abnormal activity in default mode network (DMN) regions. However, no study has specifically investigated the relationship between DMN functional activity and suicidal behavior in depressed individuals. Therefore, in the present study, we directly investigated features of DMN brain activity in adolescent patients with histories of depression and attempted suicide. Methods A total of 35 sex- and age-matched suicidal depressed patients were compared with 18 non-suicidal depressed patients and 47 healthy controls. We explored functional activity changes in DMN regions that could be associated with suicidal behavior by comparing resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (rs-fMRI) signals using independent component analysis (ICA). Scores on six clinical scales that measure depression severity (Hamilton Depression Scale (HDRS) and Beck Depression Inventory (BDI)) and suicidal traits (Barratt Impulsiveness Scale (BIS-11), Suicide Attitude Questionnaire (SAQ), Beck Hopelessness Scale (BHS), and Scale for Suicide Ideation (SSI)) were compared in the three groups. Results Compared with the healthy controls, all of the evaluated depressed patients showed increased functional connectivity in select DMN regions. The suicidal patients showed increased connectivity in the left cerebellum and decreased connectivity in the right posterior cingulate cortex (PCC), whereas the non-suicidal depressed patients showed increased connectivity in the left superior frontal gyrus, left lingual gyrus and right precuneus and decreased connectivity in the left cerebellum. Compared to the non-suicidal patients, the suicidal patients showed increased connectivity in the left cerebellum and the left lingual gyrus and decreased connectivity in the right precuneus. No differences in the scores of any clinical scales were found between the suicidal and non-suicidal depressed patients. Conclusions Collectively, our results highlight the importance of the DMN in the pathophysiology of depression and suggest that suicidal behavior in depressed adolescents may be related to abnormal functional connectivity in the DMN. In particular, abnormal connectivity in the PCC/precuneus and left cerebellum might be a predictor of suicidal behavior in depressed adolescent patients.

The main purpose of this study was to investigate the psychometric properties of the Barratt Impulsiveness Scale (BIS-11). Content item analysis was conducted by seven doctoral students. A convenience sample of 897 students was submitted to BIS-11 and they also filled self-reports about Minor Mental Disorder and ADHD symptoms, alcohol use and cigarette smoking. Mean age was 27.32 (SD=8.69) years, 56% were female and 52% had incomplete college degree. Content and factorial analyses revealed that impulsivity was best represented by two latent factors labeled non-planning and inhibition behaviors. Test retest agreement tended to produce similar score patterns seven months after the first evaluation. Additionally, BIS-11 scores discriminated subjects in terms of cigarette smoking and psychopathological symptoms, which indicated evidences regarding criterion-related validity. The theoretical discussion was present based on the neuropsychological model of hot and cool aspects of executive function.

Estudio no experimental de tipo transeccional descriptivo cuyo objetivo fue identificar los factores asociados a ideación suicida en una muestrade 258 universitarios con edades comprendidas entre los 18 y los 24 años, pertenecientes a una universidad ubicada en el departamento deBoyacá; a partir del inventario de ideación suicida positiva y negativa (PANSI), la Escala de autoevaluación para la depresión de Zung (SDS),la Escala de impulsividad de Barratt (BIS), el Cuestionario de dependencia emocional (CDE), la Escala de eventos vitales estresantes (EEVA)y una ficha sociodemográfica. El análisis de resultados indican que el 31 % de la población participante presentó ideación suicida, hallándosea partir de las pruebas U de Mann-Whitney y Kruskal Wallis, que el estado civil unión libre, los eventos vitales estresantes, la dependenciaemocional, la impulsividad y la depresión son factores asociados a ideación en universitarios.