Associations between impulsivity and high risk sexual behaviors in dually diagnosed outpatients.
OBJECTIVE
It is unknown whether impulsivity is associated with risky sexual behavior in dually diagnosed clients.


METHODS
Impulsivity in 51 sexually-active, dually diagnosed clients was assessed by the Barrett Impulsivity Scale, Delayed Discounting Questionnaire, and Wisconsin Card-Sorting Task, and a path analysis of relationship to self-reported risk behaviors was conducted.


RESULTS
Recent cocaine use was correlated with risky sexual behaviors and a preference for immediate over larger, delayed rewards trended towards a correlation.


CONCLUSIONS
The association between impulsivity and risky sexual behavior among substance users appears to extend to the dually diagnosed. Implications for HIV prevention are discussed.
Black
Ryan A
RA
Inflexxion, Inc. Newton, Massachusetts 02464, USA. Rblack@inflexxion.com
Serowik
Kristin L
KL
Rosen
Marc I
MI
D000328:Adult; D003155:Community Mental Health Centers; D017831:Diagnosis, Dual (Psychiatry); D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007175:Impulsive Behavior / Q000150:complications / Q000523:psychology*; D008297:Male; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D010045:Outpatients; D018579:Patient Selection; D012309:Risk-Taking; D012725:Sexual Behavior / Q000523:psychology*; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000150:complications / Q000523:psychology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires