title: A multifactorial and integrative approach to impulsivity in neuropsychology: insights from the UPPS model of impulsivity.
abstract: Risky and excessive behaviors, such as aggressive and compulsive behaviors, are frequently described in patients with brain damage and have dramatic psychosocial consequences. Although there is strong evidence that impulsivity constitutes a key factor at play in these behaviors, the literature about impulsivity in neuropsychology is to date scarce. In addition, examining and understanding these problematic behaviors requires the assumption that impulsivity is a multidimensional construct. Consequently, this article aims at shedding light on frequent risky and excessive behaviors in patients with brain damage by focusing on a unified, comprehensive, and well-validated model, namely, the UPPS model of impulsivity. This model considers impulsivity as a multidimensional construct that includes four facets: urgency, (lack of) premeditation, (lack of) perseverance, and sensation seeking. Furthermore, we discuss the psychological mechanisms underlying the dimensions of impulsivity, as well as the laboratory tasks designed to assess each mechanism and their neural bases. We then present a scale specifically designed to assess these four dimensions of impulsivity in patients with brain damage and examine the data regarding this multidimensional approach to impulsivity in neuropsychology. This review supports the need to adopt a multifactorial and integrative approach toward impulsive behaviors, and the model presented provides a valuable rationale to disentangle the nature of brain systems and mechanisms underlying impulsive behaviors in patients with brain damage. It may also foster further relevant research in the field of impulsivity and improve assessment and rehabilitation of impulsive behaviors in clinical settings.
authors.affiliation: a Department of Psychology and Educational Sciences, Cognitive Psychopathology and Neuropsychology Unit , University of Geneva , Geneva , Switzerland.|b Swiss Centre for Affective Sciences , University of Geneva , Geneva , Switzerland.
authors.forename: Lucien
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Rochat
authors.affiliation: c Institute for Health and Behavior, Integrative Research Unit on Social and Individual Development (INSIDE) , University of Luxembourg , Esch-sur-Alzette , Luxembourg.|d Laboratory for Experimental Psychopathology, Psychological Sciences Research Institute , Université catholique de Louvain , Louvain-La-Neuve , Belgium.
authors.forename: Joël
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Billieux
authors.affiliation: e Department of Psychology , University of Montreal , Montreal , Canada.|f Centre for Interdisciplinary Research in Rehabilitation of Greater Montreal (CRIR) , Montreal , Canada.|g Centre de recherche en neuropsychologie et cognition (CERNEC) , Montreal , Canada.
authors.forename: Jean
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Gagnon
authors.affiliation: a Department of Psychology and Educational Sciences, Cognitive Psychopathology and Neuropsychology Unit , University of Geneva , Geneva , Switzerland.|b Swiss Centre for Affective Sciences , University of Geneva , Geneva , Switzerland.
authors.forename: Martial
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Van der Linden
mesh_terms: D000374:Aggression / Q000502:physiology / Q000523:psychology; D001921:Brain / Q000503:physiopathology; D001925:Brain Damage, Chronic / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000523:psychology* / Q000534:rehabilitation; D003192:Compulsive Behavior / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007175:Impulsive Behavior / Q000502:physiology; D008297:Male; D008960:Models, Psychological; D009484:Neuropsychology; D011340:Problem Solving / Q000502:physiology; D012309:Risk-Taking
keywords: Brain damage; Decision-making; Impulsivity; Inhibition; UPPS Impulsive Behavior Scale