Do Individuals with Alcohol Dependence Show Higher Unfairness Sensitivity? The Relationship Between Impulsivity and Unfairness Sensitivity in Alcohol-Dependent Adults.
BACKGROUND
Alcohol-dependent patients are known to be generally more unfairness sensitive. The ultimatum game (UG) is an experimental task designed to provoke feelings of perceived unfairness. A previous study using the UG has reported more unfairness sensitivity in patients with alcohol dependence than in a nondependent control group; it has been speculated that this increased sensitivity might be due to a difficulty in impulse control. However, the mechanism of this relationship has not been clarified. Therefore, the relationship between unfairness sensitivity in interpersonal relationships and impulsivity was investigated using UG and delay discounting (DD) paradigms.


METHODS
Subjects were 32 individuals with alcohol dependency and 36 healthy control individuals; both groups performed UG and DD tasks.


RESULTS
Participants with alcohol dependence rejected monetary offers deemed unfair at a significantly higher rate than did control participants. Moreover, the proportion of accepting unfairness was negatively correlated with impulsivity in patients with alcohol dependence.


CONCLUSIONS
Perceived unfairness is related to impulsivity in patients with alcohol dependence. These results provide insights concerning the psychopathology of alcohol dependence.
Senogawa Hospital, 4-11-13, Nakanohigashi, Akiku, Hiroshima, 739-0323, Japan.
Ryotaro
R
Tsukue
Department of Psychiatry and Neurosciences, Division of Frontier Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Hiroshima University, 1-2-3 Kasumi, Minami-ku, Hiroshima, 734-8551, Japan.
Yasumasa
Y
Okamoto
Department of Psychiatry and Neurosciences, Division of Frontier Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Hiroshima University, 1-2-3 Kasumi, Minami-ku, Hiroshima, 734-8551, Japan.
Atsuo
A
Yoshino
Department of Psychology, School of Human Sciences, Senshu University, Kanagawa, Japan.
Yoshihiko
Y
Kunisato
Department of Psychiatry and Neurosciences, Division of Frontier Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Hiroshima University, 1-2-3 Kasumi, Minami-ku, Hiroshima, 734-8551, Japan.
Koki
K
Takagaki
Risk Analysis Research Center, Institute of Statistical Mathematics, Tokyo, Japan.
Yoshitake
Y
Takebayashi
Career Development Center, Hyogo University of Teacher Education, Hyogo, Japan.
Keisuke
K
Tanaka
Senogawa Hospital, 4-11-13, Nakanohigashi, Akiku, Hiroshima, 739-0323, Japan.
Kyohei
K
Konuma
Senogawa Hospital, 4-11-13, Nakanohigashi, Akiku, Hiroshima, 739-0323, Japan.
Ichiro
I
Tsukue
Department of Psychiatry and Neurosciences, Division of Frontier Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Hiroshima University, 1-2-3 Kasumi, Minami-ku, Hiroshima, 734-8551, Japan.
Shigeto
S
Yamawaki
D000437:Alcoholism / Q000523:psychology*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D065786:Delay Discounting; D004644:Emotions; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007175:Impulsive Behavior; D007398:Interpersonal Relations; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012935:Social Justice
Alcoholic Dependence; Delay Discounting; Impulsivity; Ultimatum Game; Unfairness