Citation

Roozen HG, Van der Kroft P, van Marle HJ, Franken IH. J. Subst. Abuse Treat. 2011; 40(4): 414-418.

Affiliation

Erasmus University Medical Centre, Department of Forensic Psychiatry, P.O. box 2040, 3000 CA, Rotterdam, The Netherlands; Novadic-Kentron, P.O. box 243, 5260 AE, Vught, The Netherlands.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2011, Elsevier Publishing)

DOI

10.1016/j.jsat.2010.12.003

PMID

21315541

Abstract

Patients with substance use disorders are frequently associated with impulsivity that may underlie elevated levels life-threatening types of behavior, including aggression. In addition, craving is a prominent feature of addiction and appears to be closely related to impulsivity. This study assessed the unique contribution of cocaine craving and impulsivity in predicting aggression by means of correlational and mediational analyses. Forty inpatient detoxified cocaine-dependent patients and 40 matched healthy controls were enrolled. These participants filled out the Obsessive Compulsive Drug Use Scale, the Dickman Impulsivity Inventory, and the Aggression Questionnaire. The patient group showed elevated levels of impulsivity and aggression as compared with the control group. Although cocaine craving is positively correlated with both impulsivity and aggression, craving did not mediate the relationship between both constructs. It is concluded that craving does not have an impact on the relationship between impulsivity and trait aggression in this patient sample.

Language: en