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. 2022 Jul;78(7):1451-1462.
doi: 10.1002/jclp.23316. Epub 2022 Jan 19.

Association of impulsivity with quality of life and well-being after alcohol withdrawal treatment

Daniela Reichl  1 , Niklas Enewoldsen  1 , Kiona K Weisel  2 , Lukas Fuhrmann  2   3 , Catharina Lang  2 , Sebastian Saur  2 , Matthias Berking  2 , Mathias Zink  4 , Andreas Ahnert  3 , Peter Falkai  5 , Thomas Kraus  6 , Thomas Hillemacher  7 , Felix-N Müller  7 , Johannes Kornhuber  8 , Dominikus Bönsch  9 , Linda Kerkemeyer  10 , Sabine Steins-Loeber  1
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Association of impulsivity with quality of life and well-being after alcohol withdrawal treatment

Daniela Reichl et al. J Clin Psychol. 2022 Jul.

Abstract

Objectives: Impulsivity is related to a higher risk of relapse in alcohol use disorders. However, besides drinking behavior, other recovery outcomes like physical and mental health-related quality of life are at least as important. The present study aimed to fill a research gap regarding the association of different impulsivity facets with health-related quality of life and well-being in alcohol use disorder.

Methods: Individuals with a primary alcohol use disorder diagnosis (n = 167) were interviewed with standardized self-report measures at the progressed stage of their withdrawal treatment and 6 weeks thereafter. Multiple regression models were calculated to examine the association of impulsivity, craving, and drinking patterns with health-related quality of life and well-being 6 weeks after withdrawal treatment, as well as the predictive role of impulsivity assessed during withdrawal for these two outcomes.

Results: Craving was associated with health-related quality of life and well-being 6 weeks after withdrawal. Likewise, non-planning and attentional impulsivity were associated with well-being 6 weeks after withdrawal. Motor impulsivity during withdrawal treatment predicted health-related quality of life 6 weeks thereafter.

Conclusion: Impulsivity seems to be negatively related to health-related quality of life and well-being in the first weeks after alcohol withdrawal treatment, probably to a higher extent than drinking patterns, but differentiating between its facets seems to be important. These findings emphasize the importance of treatment approaches aiming at reduced impulsivity in the early recovery process.

Keywords: alcohol use disorder; attentional; impulse control; motor; non-planning.

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