Pharmacological Interventions for Impulsivity in Addictive Disorders

AbstractPurposeof ReviewNew treatment approaches are needed for addictive disorders. There is a clear link between trait impulsivity and addictions, and impulsivity predicts worse addiction-related outcomes. Therefore, pharmacological treatments targeting impulsivity may enhance outcomes of addictive disorders. This paper aims to review and synthesize the most recent literature on pharmacological interventions for impulsivity in addictive disorders. We focus on studies that include both impulsivity and addictive disorder outcomes.Recent FindingsSeveral studies fit our criteria; however, studies varied in terms of methodologies, medications, patient populations, and addictive behavior being studied. Nonetheless, some positive signals have emerged which deserve further study, including dopaminergic and glutamatergic medications, among others.SummaryImpulsivity continues to be viewed as a multi-faceted construct, evaluated using a range of methodologies (including self-reports or behavioral tasks), each of which may measure distinct yet overlapping facets of impulsivity. Medications that target the dopamine and glutamatergic systems are of particular interest, as these systems play fundamental roles in addictive disorders. More standardization is needed in study methodologies, and medications should be studied across addictive disorders

Source: Current Addiction Reports - May 20, 2023 Category: Addiction Source Type: research