Psychiatric aspects of impulsivity

Objective: The authors discuss the relationship of impulsivity to psychiatr ic disorders and present selected hypotheses regarding the reasons for thes e relationships. Method: Previous research has shown significantly higher levels of impulsiv ity among patients with conduct disorder, personality disorders, substance use disorders, and bipolar disorder, compared to other psychiatric patients or healthy comparison subjects. A literature review of the theoretical bas es of the relationship between these disorders and impulsivity is presented . Measurements of impulsivity and treatment options are discussed in relati on to the physiology of impulsivity and the disorders in which it is a prom inent feature. Results: impulsivity, as defined on the basis of a biopsychosocial approach , is a key feature of several psychiatric disorders. Behavioral and pharmac ological interventions that are effective for treating impulsivity should b e incorporated into treatment plans for these disorders. Conclusions: The high comorbidity of impulsivity and selected psychiatric d isorders, including personality disorders, substance use disorders, and bip olar disorder, is in a large part related to the association between impuls ivity and the biological substrates of these disorders. Before treatment st udies on impulsivity can move forward, measures of impulsivity that capture the core aspects of this behavior need to be refined and tested on the bas is of an ideologically neutral model of impulsivity.