RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN IMPULSIVITY, PSYCHOLOGICAL INFLEXIBILITY AND PSYCOPATHOLOGY IN SUBJECTS WITH NICOTINE DEPENDENCE

Abstract

Introduction: impulsivity and psychological inflexibility characterize relapses in nicotine

dependent subjects. Furthermore, psychopathology symptoms (depression, anxiety, hostility

and somatization) are also related to the tobacco consumption. Objective: to evaluate the

correlation of impulsivity with psychological inflexibility, and symptoms of psychopathology

in nicotine dependent subjects. Method: An observational study was carried out, the universe of

which was the patients who attended the smoking clinic of the State Center for Mental Health

for the first time (January-March 2020). The sample were 24 patients to whom a series of valid

and reliable instruments were applied: the Fagerstr.m test to measure nicotine dependence, the

Barratt impulsivity scale, the Acceptance and Action questionnaire to measure the inflexibility

score and the SCL-90 symptom list, to identify psychopathology symptoms. Correlations were

made with the Spearman test. Results: No correlation was found between impulsivity and

psychological inflexibility. There was a correlation of impulsivity with anxiety (r= 0,467, p <

0,05), somatization (r=0,451, p<0,05) and hostility (r= 0,426, p < 0,05). None of the

psychopathology symptoms correlated with psychological inflexibility. The comparison

between high and low impulsivity and psychological inflexibility showed that the high

impulsivity and low inflexibility groups had high scores for psychopathology symptoms. Only

the anxiety scale marked significant differences according to the level of impulsivity.

Conclusions: impulsivity and psychological inflexibility did not correlate. Impulsivity

correlated with symptoms of anxiety and somatization. The inflexibility did not correlate with

any symptoms of psychopathology.