Facets of impulsivity and alcohol use: What role do emotions play?

Publication date: Available online 19 October 2018Source: Neuroscience & Biobehavioral ReviewsAuthor(s): Aleksandra M. Herman, Theodora DukaAbstractAlcohol misuse is a major public concern. Impulsivity has been recognised as a significant risk factor predisposing for the initiation of alcohol use, continuation and excessive alcohol use. Evidence suggests that impulsivity is also a result of both acute alcohol intoxication and long-term alcohol abuse. The multifaceted character of impulsivity and the various ways of assessing it in humans and animal models, hampers the full understanding of how impulsivity relates to alcohol use and misuse. Therefore, in this review we evaluate recent developments in the field, trying to disentangle the contribution of different impulsivity subtypes as causes and effects of alcohol use. Moreover, we review a growing body of evidence, including brain imaging, suggesting the importance of emotional states in engaging in alcohol consumption, particularly in highly impulsive individuals. We also present recent insights into how emotional processing is manifested in alcoholism and binge drinking and suggest novel approaches to treatment and prevention opportunities which target emotional-regulation as well as emotional perception and insight.Graphical abstractSome factors predisposing to alcohol consumption and some of the consequences of alcohol use.
Source: Neuroscience and Biobehavioral Reviews - Category: Neuroscience Source Type: research