Impulsivity is also associated with problem alcohol use, including diagnoses of both alcohol dependence and abuse. Using a longitudinal design, Sher, Bartholow, & Wood (2000) demonstrated that impulsivity, defined as the “novelty seeking” (NS) subscale of the Tridimensional Personality Questionnaire (TPQ), prospectively predicted AUDs six years later in a high-risk college sample, thus suggesting that sensation seeking aspects of impulsivity may be relevant in understanding the development of AUDs. Von Demien et al. (2008) found that drinkers who met DSM-IV criteria for abuse or dependence scored higher on the BIS than non-alcohol abusing controls. Further, when age of first drink was included in the model, the strength of the relationship between BIS scores and SUDs decreased, suggesting that “part of the effect of impulsivity on the odds of SUDs is explained by a reduction in age of first drink” (von Demien et al., 2008). Ketzenberger & Forrest (2000) also found that BIS scores differed in individuals who did or did not meet DSM-IV criteria for an AUD. These relationships were evident in individuals grouped by decade from age 20 to 60, suggesting that the relationship does not vary substantially with the progression of problem drinking.
