The relevance of personality traits in impulsivity-related disorders: From substance use disorders and gambling disorder to bulimia nervosa

Abstract

Background and aimsThe main aim of this study was to analyze and describe the clinical characteristics and shared personality traits in different impulsivity–compulsivity spectrum disorders: substance use disorders (SUD), gambling disorder (GD), and bulimia nervosa (BN). The specific aims were to compare personality differences among individuals with pure SUD, BN with and without SUD, and GD with and without SUD. In addition, we assessed the differential predictive capacity of clinical and personality variables in relation to diagnostic subtype.MethodsThe sample comprised 998 subjects diagnosed according to DSM-IV-TR criteria: 101 patients were diagnosed with SUD, 482 with GD, 359 with BN, 11 with GD + SUD, and 45 patients with BN + SUD. Various assessment instruments were administered, as well as other clinical measures, to evaluate their predictive capacity.ResultsMarked differences in personality traits were observed between groups. Novelty seeking, harm avoidance, self-directedness, cooperation, and self-transcendence best differentiated the groups. Notably, novelty seeking was significantly higher in the two dual pathology subgroups. Patients with dual pathology showed the most dysfunctional personality profiles.Discussion and conclusionOur results indicate the existence of shared dysfunctional personality traits among the groups studied, especially in novelty seeking and self-directedness.

Demographic, psychiatric, and personality correlates of adults seeking treatment for disordered gambling with a comorbid binge/purge type eating disorder

“…Interestingly, there were no differences between the two groups on any of the temperament or character dimensions assessed. This result is contrary to previous findings (Claes et al, 2012;del Pino-Gutiérrez et al, 2017;Farstad et al, 2016;Jiménez-Murcia et al, 2013. A potential reason could be that the relationship in temperament/character between binge/purge type eating disorder and gambling disorder is moderated by gender (Alvarez-Moya et al, 2007).…”

“…More importantly from a clinical perspective, little is known about the psychiatric and personality correlates that differentiate people with comorbid binge/purge type eating disorder and gambling disorder from those without, knowledge that may help in tailoring unique treatment approaches among this dual-diagnosis population. Indeed, although previous research by Jiménez-Murcia and colleagues (e.g., Claes et al, 2012;del Pino-Gutiérrez et al, 2017;Jiménez-Murcia et al, 2013 has delineated important differences in the comorbid relationship between binge/purge type eating disorders, it has focused predominately on personality dimensions among people seeking treatment for eating disorder (for an exception, see Jiménez-Murcia et al, 2017). Little is known about clinical correlates (e.g., psychiatric comorbidities and symptom severity) in this dual-diagnosis population, especially among people seeking treatment for gambling disorder.…”

“…To date, however, only a handful of studies have specifically examined the relationship between binge/purge type eating disorders and gambling disorder. In addition to assessing the comorbidity rates (Jiménez-Murcia et al, 2013;von Ranson et al, 2013), studies have found that similarities and differences exist in personality dimensions (e.g., temperament/character and impulsivity) in people with a gambling disorder, binge/purge type eating disorder, and the comorbid expression of both (Claes et al, 2012;del Pino-Gutiérrez et al, 2017;Jiménez-Murcia et al, 2013). For example, low self-directness and harm avoidance have been found to be associated with both bulimia nervosa and gambling disorder (Alvarez-Moya et al, 2007;Claes et al, 2012), whereas novelty seeking was found to be related only to gambling (Alvarez-Moya et al, 2007).…”

Temperament and Character Inventory in Bipolar Disorder versus Healthy Controls and Modulatory Effects of 3 Key Functional Gene Variants

“…Moreover, also in the HC group, this association was limited to male subjects, suggesting a gene x sex effect in the determination of NS levels. More in detail, we found that the Val/Val genotype was associated with higher NS levels in this subgroup of subjects, partially consistent with literature data about the effects of this genotype on impulsivity and addictive behaviors [64, 65], which are both associated with NS dimensions [66, 67]. Furthermore, the lack of association observed in BD sample may support the hypothesis that BD pathophysiological process alters the neurobiological substrates of NS, as previously stated.…”

Psychiatric comorbidity as a risk factor for the mortality of people with bulimia nervosa

“…It is often associated with affective disorders (AD) [7], substance use disorders (SUD) [8][9][10][11] and personality disorders (PD) [12][13][14]. It has been hypothesized that these comorbidities-specifically SUD and PD-develop on the basis of an increased impulsivity and affective instability in patients with BN [15][16][17][18]. This view is supported by findings that borderline PD traits are particularly common among patients with BN [19].…”