title: Impulsivity, risky behaviors and accidents in alcohol-dependent patients.
abstract: Impulsivity and alcohol drinking are both considered as important predictors of unintentional as well as intentional injuries. However, relationships of impulsivity with risky behaviors and a history of accidents have not been investigated in alcohol dependence. The aim of this study was to analyze relationships between the frequency of risky behaviors and level of behavioral as well as cognitive impulsivity in alcohol-dependent patients. By means of Barratt's Impulsiveness Scale (BIS) and stop-signal task, the levels of cognitive and behavioral impulsivity among 304 alcohol-dependent patients were measured. Also, patients were asked to answer questions from the Short Inventory of Problems applying to risky behaviors and accidents after alcohol drinking. In addition participants completed a questionnaire to assess frequency of other behaviors from the analyzed spectrum (use of other drugs, driving or aggressive behavior after alcohol drinking). The statistical analysis revealed a significant association between impulsivity and frequency of risky behaviors in alcohol-dependent patients. Individuals with higher scores in BIS behaved more frequently in a risky way and had significantly more accidents after alcohol drinking. The association with risky behaviors was strongest for non-planning and attentional impulsivity subscales, whereas frequency of accidents was particularly associated with motor impulsivity. A multivariate analysis revealed that impulsivity was the most important predictor of risky behaviors, but did not significantly predict a history of accidents. Our study confirms that impulsivity is an important correlate of risky behaviors in alcohol-dependent individuals, along with global psychopathology and severity of alcohol dependence.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, Medical University of Warsaw, Warsaw, Poland.
authors.forename: Andrzej
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Jakubczyk
authors.forename: Anna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Klimkiewicz
authors.forename: Anna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Wnorowska
authors.forename: Katarzyna
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Mika
authors.forename: Marcin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bugaj
authors.forename: Anna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Podgórska
authors.forename: Kristen
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Barry
authors.forename: Frederic C
authors.initials: FC
authors.lastname: Blow
authors.forename: Kirk J
authors.initials: KJ
authors.lastname: Brower
authors.forename: Marcin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Wojnar
mesh_terms: D000063:Accidents, Traffic / Q000523:psychology*; D000328:Adult; D000437:Alcoholism / Q000523:psychology*; D001334:Automobile Driving / Q000523:psychology*; D003617:Dangerous Behavior; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007175:Impulsive Behavior / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology*; D016014:Linear Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D011581:Psychological Tests; D012309:Risk-Taking; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires