Impulsivity in bipolar and substance use disorders.
BACKGROUND
Bipolar disorder (BD) is commonly associated with increased impulsivity, particularly during manic and depressed episodes; also impulsivity remains elevated during euthymic phases. Impulsivity is also a factor in the initiation and maintenance of substance use disorders (SUD). Impulsivity can predispose to substance abuse or can result from it. Impulsivity appears to be relatively independent of mood state and is higher in individuals with past substance use. Thus, we wanted to compare the impulsivity of BD and SUD closely associated with impulsivity and identify potential differences.


METHODS
Impulsivity was evaluated by the Barratt Impulsiveness Scale (BIS-11A), in 35 bipolar interepisode disorder male patients without comorbid substance use disorder and 40 substance use disorder male patients. The BIS-11A mean scores for the two groups were compared through one-way between-groups ANOVA.


RESULTS
There was no difference between the BD and substance use disorder groups on total and subscale attentional, motor impulsivity measures. However, for the male patients there was difference on the nonplanning subscale. The male BD patient group scored higher than the male substance use disorder patient group regarding nonplanning impulsivity.


CONCLUSIONS
Our results replicate the findings that interepisode BD and substance use disorder patients both have increased total impulsivity; furthermore, the findings also indicate that trait impulsivity is not completely the same in subscales. Both groups were similar on attention and motor impulsivity subscales; however, on the nonplanning subscale, BD patients were more impulsive than the substance use disorder patients.
Sakarya University, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Psychiatry, Sakarya, Turkey. Electronic address: drozten@gmail.com.
Mustafa
M
Ozten
Sakarya University, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Psychiatry, Sakarya, Turkey. Electronic address: erolatila@gmail.com.
Atila
A
Erol
Sakarya University, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Psychiatry, Sakarya, Turkey. Electronic address: skryln@gmail.com.
Semra
S
Karayilan
Sakarya University, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Psychiatry, Sakarya, Turkey. Electronic address: hkapudan@gmail.com.
Hilal
H
Kapudan
Sakarya University, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Psychiatry, Sakarya, Turkey. Electronic address: sertacorsel@gmail.com.
Ertac Sertac
ES
Orsel
Sakarya University Training and Research Hospital Psychiatry Clinic, Sakarya, Turkey. Electronic address: drneslihankumsar@gmail.com.
Neslihan Akkisi
NA
Kumsar
D000328:Adult; D001288:Attention; D001714:Bipolar Disorder / Q000523:psychology*; D006801:Humans; D007175:Impulsive Behavior; D008297:Male; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000523:psychology*; D055815:Young Adult