Impulsivity on Fire: Fueled by Alcohol or Depression?

Abstract Background: Impulsivity is a multidimensional construct observed in several psychiatric disorders, such as alcohol use disorder (AUD) and major depressive disorder (MDD). While both are associated with higher impulsivity than the general population but degree and domains of impulsivity of both differ. Aim: To compare the degree and domains of impulsivity in patients with AUD versus MDD. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional, comparative study was conducted at a tertiary care hospital in Nagpur with 32 participants (16 AUD, 16 MDD) diagnosed as per Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition criteria. Sociodemographic details were collected, and assessments used were the Barratt Impulsiveness Scale-11 (BIS-11), alcohol use disorders identification test (AUDIT), and Beck Depression Inventory-II (BDI-II). Independent-samples t-tests were used, with P < 0.05 considered significant. Results: The mean age was 41.63 years in the AUD group and 38.94 years in the MDD group. AUD patients had higher AUDIT scores ( P < 0.001), whereas MDD patients scored higher on BDI-II ( P < 0.001). BIS-11 total scores were greater in AUD (72.25 ± 4.18) than MDD (67.06 ± 6.14; P = 0.012, Cohen’s d = 0.99). There was higher attentional impulsivity in MDD ( P – 0.002, d – 1.20), while AUD patients had higher motor ( P = 0.039, d = 0.76) and non-planning impulsivity ( P < 0.001, d -1.86). Conclusion: AUD patients showed greater overall impulsivity, especially in motor and non-planning domains, whereas MDD patients resulted in higher attentional impulsivity. These findings highlight the importance of personalized methods of management and treatment of impulsivity in both of these disorders.