title: Impulsivity and history of drug dependence.
abstract: Impulsivity was contrasted between 32 subjects with a history of drug-dependence (DRUG+) and 26 subjects with no drug use history (DRUG-) using both behavioral and self-report measures. The hypothesis was that the DRUG+ group would be more impulsive than the DRUG- group. Subjects in the DRUG+ group self-reported more of a tendency toward impulsivity than the DRUG- group in the situations posed in questionnaires. In the behavioural paradigm involving a choice between a smaller intermediate reward and a larger but delayed reward, DRUG+ subjects selected the impulsive option more often, but these differences were not significant. The DRUG+ and DRUG- groups did differ on the mean delay interval for the larger reward, indicating less ability to tolerate longer delays for the larger reward. A frequency distribution of delay intervals for the larger reward indicated that DRUG+ subjects were more likely to maintain very short intervals and less likely to maintain longer intervals.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of Texas, Houston 77030, USA.
authors.forename: T J
authors.initials: TJ
authors.lastname: Allen
authors.forename: F G
authors.initials: FG
authors.lastname: Moeller
authors.forename: H M
authors.initials: HM
authors.lastname: Rhoades
authors.forename: D R
authors.initials: DR
authors.lastname: Cherek
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002755:Choice Behavior / Q000502:physiology*; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007175:Impulsive Behavior / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000523:psychology; D008297:Male; D010551:Personality; D012201:Reward; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000523:psychology*; D013997:Time Factors; D014836:Volition / Q000502:physiology