Which temperamental characteristics are associated with substance use in subjects with psychotic and mood disorders?

The aim of this study was to assess the associations between substance use disorders and temperamental characteristics in subjects with non-affective psychotic disorders or mood disorders. Consecutively hospitalized patients were interviewed with a structured diagnostic interview to define DSM-IV di agnoses, including those of substance use. Temperamental characteristics we re measured using the Sensation-Seeking Scale (SSS), the Barratt Impulsivit y Scale (BIS) and the Physical Anhedonia Scale. Inpatients (n = 103) with n on-affective psychotic disorders (n = 45) or mood disorders (n = 58) were i ncluded. Among these patients, 25.2% presented with a lifetime (LT) history of alcohol abuse/dependence and 23.3% presented with a LT history of canna bis abuse/dependence. A LT history of alcohol misuse was independently asso ciated with higher scores at the 'experience seeking' and 'disinhibition? s ubscales of the SSS. A LT history of cannabis misuse was independently asso ciated with higher scores on the 'disinhibition' subscale of the SSS and th e 'non-planning activity' subscale of the BIS. These results suggest that s ensation-seeking and impulsivity are temperamental characteristics that may favor substance use in patients with psychotic or mood disorders, independ ently from categorical diagnoses. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science Ireland Ltd. Al l rights reserved.