The role of impulsive personality traits in the initiation, development, and treatment of substance misuse problems.

This chapter discusses the role of impulsive personality traits in the initiation, development, and treatment of substance misuse problems. Impulsive temperament plays a role in the initiation of substance use, and is implicated in the development of substance misuse. It is evident that impulsivity is not a homogenous construct but is more accurately conceptualized as at least a two-dimensional model consisting of reward-driven processes, and an inability to inhibit drug use despite negative consequences. Rash Impulsivity also plays a role in substance use. Scores on measures of Rash Impulsiveness in middle childhood have been found to predict experimentation with alcohol and other drugs in later adolescence and early adulthood. It is proposed that reward-sensitive individuals may have a more reactive dopaminergic response to reward cues that influences the incentive salience of the reward, as well as the motivational processes involved in drug wanting. It is suggested that two-factor conceptualization will provide further directions for the prevention and treatment of substance use problems