title: Impulsivity in smoking, nonsmoking, and ex-smoking alcoholics.
abstract: The impulsivity levels were evaluated and compared in smoking, nonsmoking, and ex-smoking abstinent alcoholics (N=400) in a French alcohol detoxification center. Impulsivity was measured using the Barratt Impulsiveness Scale, French version (BIS 10). The BIS scores correlated inversely with age. Gender had no effect on impulsivity scores, while impulsivity was associated with smoking. Adding age as a covariate, however, eliminated or moderated the association, with three exceptions: (1) among males, heavy smokers were more impulsive than nonsmokers and medium smokers; (2) on the nonplanning subscale, heavy smokers were more impulsive than all other groups, and (3) current smokers were more impulsive than ex-smokers. Elevated impulsivity levels appear to be an obstacle to smoking cessation. In addition, stopping smoking may diminish impulsivity levels in alcoholics. Routine testing of impulsivity in current alcoholic smokers might predict who might successfully become an ex-smoker.
authors.affiliation: Centre de Traitement des Addictions, Hôpital Emile Roux, 1 Avenue de Verdun, 94456 Limeil-Brévannes, France. marilyn.skinner@erx.ap-hop-paris.fr
authors.forename: Marilyn D
authors.initials: MD
authors.lastname: Skinner
authors.forename: Henri-Jean
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Aubin
authors.forename: Ivan
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Berlin
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000437:Alcoholism / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007175:Impulsive Behavior / Q000523:psychology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012737:Sex Factors; D012907:Smoking / Q000523:psychology*; D016540:Smoking Cessation / Q000523:psychology*; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires