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