Impulsivity in Alcohol Dependence among Male Patients in Tamil Nadu: A Cross-sectional Study

Abstract

Introduction: Alcohol is one of the major substances used in our country, affecting people of young age to old age. It has become a significant concern as a public health burden across all of India. Although the consequences of alcohol dependence in terms of impulsivity are widely assessed, the depth of the burden of alcohol dependence changes with respect to place, time, and socio-economic conditions. Aim: To understand the role of impulsivity and Adverse Childhood Events (ACE) in alcohol dependence among male patients. Materials and Methods: A hospital-based cross-sectional study was conducted between January 2020 and December 2020 among 190 male cases of alcohol dependence syndrome based on ICD-10 criteria. These patients visited the outpatient or inpatient psychiatry department at SRM Medical College Hospital and Research Centre, Potheri, Chengalpattu, Tamil Nadu, India. During the first visit, socio-demographic and clinical details were collected, along with the Barratt Impulsiveness Scale (BIS) and ACE Questionnaire. During the second visit, the Adult Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) Scale and Severity of Alcohol Dependence Questionnaire (SADQ) scales were used. Pearson’s correlation was used for analysis using statistical software Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 21.0. Results: Out of the 190 patients enrolled in the study, the majority had completed middle school level education (34.2%). Among the alcoholics, 63.7% were married, and approximately 73.2% were from the lower and middle socio-economic class. A family history of alcoholism was found in nearly 78% of the participants. The maximum number of participants had 1-3 months of abstinence. Pearson’s correlation showed a positive correlation between impulsivity and its subscales with alcohol dependence score and ACE (p<0.05). Conclusion: This study concludes that both impulsivity and alcohol dependence have a bidirectional relationship. ACE also has a positive relationship with impulsivity and alcohol use.