Undergraduate Research Journal of Psychology at UCLA

Impulsive personality traits and impulsive choice are indicators of alcohol use disorder (AUD). Research on the relationship between impulsivity and relapse risk among individuals with an AUD is relatively scarce and unclear. The current study is a secondary analysis examining the predictive effect of impulsivity on alcohol use and craving during a 6-day quit attempt. Treatment seeking individuals with an AUD (N=49) were randomized to either oral naltrexone (50 mg QD), varenicline (1 mg BID), or matched placebo. Randomized participants
completed a weeklong medication titration period, followed by a 6-day quit attempt. During the initial screening visit, participants completed the UPPS-P impulsivity scale and the Monetary Choice Questionnaire to assess discounting rates, k. The Timeline Followback assessed quantity and frequency of alcohol use in the past 30-days. During the quit attempt, participants completed daily assessments on previous day alcohol consumption and craving. Multiple linear models examined baseline impulsivity as a predictor of alcohol outcomes. Baseline impulsivity traits did not significantly predict drinking outcomes or craving during the quit attempt (p>.025). Lack of premeditation predicted average alcohol craving, albeit trend-level (B=-0.338, p<.05). Lack of premeditation and overall k did not predict alcohol use or craving during the quit attempt. Impulsive traits and choice did not predict alcohol relapse in individuals with AUD. This study was among the first to test trait and behavioral impulsivity during a 6-day abstinence period. A longer follow-up may reveal associations between impulsivity and drinking outcomes, aiding development of interventions targeting AUD.