Delay-discounting among homeless, out-of-treatment, substance-dependent men who have sex with men.
BACKGROUND
Impulsivity is associated with substance use; however, to date, impulsivity has not been characterized among a sample of homeless, non-treatment seeking, substance-dependent men who have sex with men (MSM).


OBJECTIVE
The aim of this study was to utilize the delay-discounting instrument to assess impulsive behaviors among a subsample of homeless, non-treatment seeking, substance-dependent men who have sex with men (S-D MSM) enrolled in a randomized, controlled, contingency management (CM) trial.


METHODS
Twenty S-D MSM participants from the CM parent study were matched on age and ethnicity to 20 non-substance-dependent, non-homeless control participants using propensity scores (N=40) and were administered the delay-discounting procedure.


RESULTS
Although discounting values decreased rapidly with time in both groups, the S-D MSM participants consistently discounted rewards more steeply than controls (p=.05), particularly at all intermediate measured timeframes. The S-D MSM participants also presented greater median discounting rates (k values) compared with the control group (m(S-D MSM)=2.39 (SD=3.72) vs. m(ctrl)=1.27 (SD=3.71), p≤.01).


CONCLUSIONS
This work extends existing findings of increased delay-discounting among substance-dependent individuals to homeless, substance-dependent, non-treatment seeking MSM.


CONCLUSIONS
A better understanding of the prevalence of delay-discounting type behaviors among homeless, substance-dependent MSM can be used to inform the development of tailored substance abuse interventions for this high-risk population.
Friends Research Institute, Los Angeles, CA 90028, USA. rhodri.sf@gmail.com
Rhodri
R
Dierst-Davies
Cathy J
CJ
Reback
James A
JA
Peck
Miriam
M
Nuño
Jonathan B
JB
Kamien
Leslie
L
Amass
D000328:Adult; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002755:Choice Behavior; D006703:Ill-Housed Persons / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D018451:Homosexuality, Male; D006801:Humans; D007175:Impulsive Behavior / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012201:Reward; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000523:psychology*; D013997:Time Factors