The relation of alcohol addiction onset and family history with impulsivity and compulsivity

Objective: Alcohol addiction involves both impulsive and compulsive characteristics. It is suggested that the group of alcohol addicts with early-onset are more impulsive and less compulsive while those with late-onset and alcohol addicts with family history are more impulsive and less compulsive while those without family history. The aim of the study is to investigate the relation of alcohol addiction onset and family history with impulsivity and compulsivity. Methods: Impulsivity, compulsivity and alcoholism severity of 85 patients diagnosed with alcohol addiction were measured using Barratt Impulsiveness Scale, Michigan Alcoholism Screening Test and Maudsley Obsessive Compulsive Inventory, respectively. Results: The impulsivity score of the early-onset alcohol addicted group was higher than that of the late-onset alcohol addicted group. Significant differences in compulsivity were not determined between the early and late-onset groups and the groups with and without family history. A positive correlation was found between impulsivity and compulsivity in terms of all sub-groups of BIS-11 and total impulsivity scores and MOCQI rumination. Discussion: The results of this study are beneficial in terms of its contribution to the definition of impulsivity and compulsivity in alcohol addicts. It can be asserted that the early-late onset distinction may give an idea about impulsivity. The age of alcohol onset is a crucial variable for physicians involved with the treatment of alcohol addiction. Impulsive characteristics observed in individuals at risk or in those who consume alcohol at very high levels may act as alerting indicators for especially impulsivity that incite the physicians to follow the patients\' alcohol use more closely. [Anadolu Psikiyatri Derg 2013; 14(3.000): 267-274]