THE ROLE OF IMPULSIVITY AND SUICIDAL BEHAVIOR IN SUBSTANCE USE DISORDER AMONG ADULTS

Substance use disorder (SUD) is associated with substantial psychological, physical, and social harm. Impulsivity and suicidal behavior are clinically important concerns in adults receiving substance-use treatment, yet their combined contribution to the severity of substance-related problems requires further examination. This study examined associations between impulsivity, suicidal behavior, and SUD severity among adults attending rehabilitation and psychiatric services in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan. The study used a quantitative, cross-sectional, correlational design. The thesis reports data from 300 adults recruited through purposive sampling. Measures included the Barratt Impulsiveness Scale–11 (BIS-11), the Suicidal Behaviors Questionnaire–Revised (SBQ-R), and the Drug Abuse Screening Test–20 (DAST-20). Analyses were conducted in IBM SPSS Statistics 27 and included descriptive statistics, Pearson correlations, multiple regression, independent-samples t-tests, and one-way analysis of variance. Impulsivity was positively associated with SUD severity (r = .61, p < .001) and suicidal behavior (r = .54, p < .001). Suicidal behavior was also positively associated with SUD severity (r = .49, p < .001). In the reported regression model, impulsivity and suicidal behavior jointly explained 47% of the variance in SUD severity (R² = .47, p < .001), with impulsivity showing the larger standardized coefficient. Male participants had higher mean impulsivity and SUD severity scores than female participants, while the gender difference in suicidal behavior was not statistically significant. The thesis also reports age-group differences in SUD severity. The findings support the clinical value of assessing impulsivity and suicide risk alongside substance-related problems. Because the design is cross-sectional, the findings indicate associations rather than causal effects. Future research should use longitudinal designs, transparent reporting, and locally appropriate clinical safeguards.