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Pharmacological Interventions for Impulsivity in Addictive Disorders

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Abstract

Purposeof Review

New 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 Findings

Several 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.

Summary

Impulsivity 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

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Papers of particular interest, published recently, have been highlighted as: • Of importance

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Funding

This work was supported by the New England Veterans Administration VISN 1 Mental Illness Research Education and Clinical Center (MIRECC), and by grant number U54DA036151 from the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) and FDA Center for Tobacco Products (CTP). The content is solely the responsibility of the authors and does not necessarily represent the official views of the NIH or the Food and Drug Administration.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Psychiatry, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA

    Elizabeth K. C. Schwartz, Alexandra N. Palmisano & Mehmet Sofuoglu

  2. Department of Psychiatry, VA Connecticut Healthcare System, 950 Campbell Avenue, Building 36, West Haven, CT, 06516, USA

    Elizabeth K. C. Schwartz, Alexandra N. Palmisano & Mehmet Sofuoglu

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  1. Elizabeth K. C. Schwartz
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Correspondence to Elizabeth K. C. Schwartz.

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Schwartz, E.K.C., Palmisano, A.N. & Sofuoglu, M. Pharmacological Interventions for Impulsivity in Addictive Disorders. Curr Addict Rep 10, 149–165 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40429-023-00486-3

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s40429-023-00486-3

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