title: Unique aspects of impulsive traits in substance use and overeating: specific contributions of common assessments of impulsivity.
abstract: Abstract Background: Impulsivity is a complex trait often studied in substance abuse and overeating disorders, but the exact nature of impulsivity traits and their contribution to these disorders are still debated. Thus, understanding how to measure impulsivity is essential for comprehending addictive behaviors.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  Identify unique impulsivity traits specific to substance use and overeating.
  
  
  METHODS
  Impulsive Sensation Seeking (ImpSS) and Barratt's Impulsivity scales (BIS) Scales were analyzed with a non-parametric factor analytic technique (discriminant correspondence analysis) to identify group-specific traits on 297 individuals from five groups: Marijuana (n = 88), Nicotine (n = 82), Overeaters (n = 27), Marijuauna + Nicotine (n = 63), and CONTROLs (n = 37).
  
  
  RESULTS
  A significant overall factor structure revealed three components of impulsivity that explained respectively 50.19% (pperm < 0.0005), 24.18% (pperm < 0.0005), and 15.98% (pperm < 0.0005) of the variance. All groups were significantly different from one another. When analyzed together, the BIS and ImpSS produce a multi-factorial structure that identified the impulsivity traits specific to these groups. The group specific traits are (1) CONTROL: low impulse, avoids thrill-seeking behaviors; (2) Marijuana: seeks mild sensation, is focused and attentive; (3) Marijuana + Nicotine: pursues thrill-seeking, lacks focus and attention; (4) Nicotine: lacks focus and planning; (5) Overeating: lacks focus, but plans (short and long term).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our results reveal impulsivity traits specific to each group. This may provide better criteria to define spectrums and trajectories - instead of categories - of symptoms for substance use and eating disorders. Defining symptomatic spectrums could be an important step forward in diagnostic strategies.
authors.affiliation: The University of Texas at Dallas, School of Behavioral and Brain Sciences , Richardson , Texas and.
authors.forename: Derek
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Beaton
authors.forename: Hervé
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Abdi
authors.forename: Francesca M
authors.initials: FM
authors.lastname: Filbey
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D016739:Behavior, Addictive / Q000523:psychology*; D005163:Factor Analysis, Statistical; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006963:Hyperphagia / Q000523:psychology*; D007175:Impulsive Behavior; D008297:Male; D008385:Marijuana Smoking / Q000523:psychology; D012907:Smoking / Q000523:psychology; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000523:psychology*; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Impulsivity; overeating; psychometrics; statistics; substance use