Jim H. Patton

Factor structure of the barratt impulsiveness scale

The purpose of the present study was to revise the Barratt Impulsiveness Scale Version 10 (BIS-10), identify the factor structure of the items among normals, and compare their scores on the revised form (BIS-11) with psychiatric inpatients and prison inmates. The scale was administered to 412 college undergraduates, 248 psychiatric inpatients, and 73 male prison inmates. Exploratory principal components analysis of the items identified six primary factors and three second-order factors. The three second-order factors were labeled Attentional Impulsiveness, Motor Impulsiveness, and Nonplanning Impulsiveness. Two of the three second-order factors identified in the BIS-11 were consistent with those proposed by Barratt (1985), but no cognitive impulsiveness component was identified per se. The results of the present study suggest that the total score of the BIS-11 is an internally consistent measure of impulsiveness and has potential clinical utility for measuring impulsiveness among selected patient and inmate populations.

Toward a Conceptualization of Impulsivity: Components across the Behavioral and Self-Report Domains

The components underlying items from a comprehensive but diverse domain of impulsivity measures were investigated. The disparity of items within this domain attests to the lack of a coherent framework from which to conceptualize impulsivity. The self-report measures included in this study were the 16PF Impulsivity scale, the GZTS Restraint, Thoughtfulness and General Activity scales, the PRF Impulsivity scale, the EASI-III Impulsivity scale, the BIS-8 and BIS-10, the I-5 and I-7, the SSS, and selected MMPI items. Behavioral measures included in this study were the MFFT, Simple Reaction Time, Time Estimation, and Time Production. From a restricted factor analysis (without correlated measurement errors) of the responses of 379 subjects to the 373 self-report items and of 228 subjects (or more) to each of the behavioral measures, 15 distinct impulsivity components were identified, with moderate to low and some negative correlations. From the analysis of the corresponding scales, a second-order model revealed three broad impulsivity factors: Spontaneous, Not Persistent, and Carefree. Implications of these results were discussed for establishing a coherent conceptualization and measurement strategy of impulsivity based, for example, on this derived second-order structure.

Extended norms for the paced auditory serial addition task

Abstract The Paced Auditory Serial Addition Task (PASAT) and an abbreviated version of the WAIS-R were administered to 143 normal individuals, including 62 persons aged 18 to 27 (58% female), 40 aged 33 to 50 (50% female), and 41 aged 60 to 75 (51% female). PASAT means and standard deviations are presented. Analysis of variance results revealed significant age effects on PASAT performance, with the 60-to 75-year age group scoring significantly lower than the two younger age groups on all four PASAT series. No significant gender effect was found. Small but statistically significant correlations were found between PASAT performance and estimated IQ.

Impulsivity and Paced Tapping

The purpose of this study was to test the hypothesis that impulsivity is positively related to both the intraindividual variability and the rate of performance of a paced tapping task. The independent variable in the tapping task were: feedback vs. no feedback; tempo; concurrent cognitive task (counting) vs. no concurrent cognitive task. Three measures of tapping performance were computed: absolute or total error of tapping, tapping rate, and the intraindividual variability of tapping. The results confirm the hypothesis that impulsivity is positively related to rate of paced tapping, although the degree of relationship varied under different experimental conditions within the paced tapping task. Intraindividual variability of tapping was not significantly related to impulsivity, but the results were suggestive of a positive relationship.

In utero exposure to fluoxetine HCl increases hematoma frequency at birth

The present study was undertaken to determine if fluoxetine HCl (Prozac, Dista Products Ltd., Liverpool, UK) might cause adverse vascular effects, such as hematomas, in rats exposed in utero. Gravid Sprague-Dawley rats were administered 5.62 mg/kg fluoxetine HCl by oral gavage beginning on day 7 of gestation and ending the day of birth. A control group received distilled water by oral gavage during gestation. At birth, offspring of both groups were assessed for visible adverse vascular effects. Fluoxetine HCl-exposed offspring showed a statistically higher frequency of skin hematomas when compared to water controls. This result is consistent with known adverse effects of fluoxetine and lends support to a recently published report that attempted to link fluoxetine HCl use to bleeding episodes in eight patients being treated for obsessive-compulsive disorder. The results of this study suggest caution in the prolonged use of this medication during pregnancy and in patients with predisposing conditions that may increase the chances of bleeding.

Multi-impulsivity within an adolescent psychiatric population

Abstract The primary purposes of this study were: (1) to determine if total scores on the Psychopathy Checklist-Revised (PCL-R) are significantly related to the number of impulsive behaviors a patient displays; (2) to determine if within a population of adolescent psychiatric patients there exists a subgroup of individuals who displays multiple impulsive behaviors; (3) to determine if multi-impulsivity is a useful concept within a female sample; and (4) to determine if the PCL-R is useful for measuring behavioral impulsiveness in females. The current study extends past multi-impulsive research by: (1) studying adolescents from a residential psychiatric facility; (2) the inclusion of enuresis as an impulsive behavior; (3) the inclusion of female patients; and (4) the use of the PCL-R, a behavioral checklist designed to measure psychopathic behavior. The results indicate that the total score on the PCL-R is significantly related to the number of impulsive behaviors exhibited by a patient. The number of impulsive behaviors displayed was not related to a patients age, IQ, length of present stay, educational placement or number of restraints per month. Multiple impulsive behaviors were evident in 88% of the adolescent patients and equally present in both the male (87%) and female (89%) subgroups. Male patients exhibiting three or more impulsive behaviors from a markedly different subgroup of multi-impulsive patients who scored significantly higher on the PCL-R. It is suggested that these patients may suffer from a true generalized lack of impulse control. These results are consistent with and lend support to previous studies on the concept of multi-impulsivity.

THE RORSCHACH AND PERSONALITY CLASSIFICATIONS OF THE CALIFORNIA PSYCHOLOGICAL INVENTORY

In a sample of 48 adolescent inpatients, the Rorschach whole response and white space response were significantly related to gender and California Psychological Inventory classification.