Impulsivity as a Risk Factor for Addictive Disorder Severity during the COVID-19 Lockdown: Results from a Mixed Quantitative and Qualitative Study

Maxime Pautrat (), Antoine Le Guen, Servane Barrault, Aurélien Ribadier, Nicolas Ballon, Jean-Pierre Lebeau and Paul Brunault
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Maxime Pautrat: EA7505 Education Ethique Santé, University of Tours, 37000 Tours, France
Antoine Le Guen: EA7505 Education Ethique Santé, University of Tours, 37000 Tours, France
Servane Barrault: Qualipsy, EE 1901, Université de Tours, 37041 Tours, France
Aurélien Ribadier: Qualipsy, EE 1901, Université de Tours, 37041 Tours, France
Nicolas Ballon: UMR 1253, iBrain, Université de Tours, INSERM, 37000 Tours, France
Jean-Pierre Lebeau: EA7505 Education Ethique Santé, University of Tours, 37000 Tours, France
Paul Brunault: Qualipsy, EE 1901, Université de Tours, 37041 Tours, France

IJERPH, 2022, vol. 20, issue 1, 1-14

Abstract: Interindividual differences in personality traits, especially impulsivity traits, are robust risk factors for addictive disorders. However, their impact on addictive disorders during the COVID-19 lockdown remains unknown. This study assessed patients being followed for addictive disorders before the lockdown. We aimed to determine whether impulsivity traits (i.e., negative- and positive urgency) were associated with addictive disorders severity during the lockdowns. We also explored the patients’ subjective experiences, focusing on high versus low impulsivity. The quantitative study assessed 44 outpatients consulting for addictive disorders, for impulsivity, emotion regulation, anxiety/depression, and their addictive disorder characteristics, using self-administered questionnaires. In the qualitative study, six patients from the quantitative study were assessed using guided interviews. We observed that higher negative and positive urgencies were associated with addictive disorder severity. The subjective experiences of patients during the lockdowns differed according to their emotion-related impulsivity: high versus low. Low impulsive patients used online technologies more effectively to maintain follow-up, with more positive reappraisal. In contrast, highly impulsive patients reverted more frequently to self-medication with substances and/or behaviors, more social isolation, and found coping with negative emotions more challenging. Overall, the patient’s ability to cope with stressful events, like the COVID-19 lockdown, depended on their emotion-related impulsivity.

Keywords: qualitative study; substance-related disorders; alcohol use disorders; behavioral addictions; addictive disorders; impulsivity; emotion regulation; COVID-19 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
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