About this Research Topic

Background

Impulsivity and compulsivity are natural behaviors controlled by brain mechanisms that are essential for survival in all species. Understanding these brain mechanisms can lead to targeted treatment strategies for these symptom domains when impulsivity and compulsivity become dysfunctional. Pathological impulsivity and compulsivity characterize a broad range of mental disorders and are among their core and most debilitating symptoms, placing an enormous personal, social, and economic burden on society.

The American Psychiatric Association (APA,2013) defines impulsivity as a predisposition toward rapid, unplanned reactions to either internal or external stimuli, without regard for negative consequences; compulsivity is in turn defined as the performance of repetitive behaviors with the goal of reducing or preventing anxiety or distress, and not providing pleasure or gratification. Although impulsivity and compulsivity interfere with different aspects of response control, they are most probably mediated by related yet distinct neural circuitries linked to motivational and decisional processes (involving the basal ganglia, their limbic cortical inputs, and top-down control from cortical prefrontal circuitry). Increased frontal lobe activity may characterize compulsive disorders, such as obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD). In contrast, decreased frontal lobe activity may characterize impulsive disorders, such as Substance Abuse and Antisocial Personality Disorder (SAD and APD).

Recently, studies have analyzed substance use disorders and have shown that impulsivity and compulsivity are risk factors for these behaviors. Substance abuse is characterized by dysregulation of reward processing and inhibitory control systems. This behavioral pattern includes an increase in sensitivity to immediate rewards and impairment of response inhibition. That is, it is the process of rapidly inhibiting an inappropriate or continuous motor response. Inhibitory control is increasingly being recognized as a determinant and consequence of substance use disorders.

Impulsivity and compulsivity have been considered distinct constructs [some studies support the association between impulsivity, substance abuse disorders (SAD), and violent or aggressive behavior. In contrast, research linking compulsivity to such outcomes has been scarce, to date, compulsivity has only been analyzed in obsessive-compulsive disorder (TOC)] or overlapping [some authors hypothesize that certain disorders, such as addictive and obsessive-compulsive disorders, are underpinned by the transition from impulsive, goal-directed behavior to compulsive stimulus-driven behavior].

The terms compulsivity and impulsivity often are used interchangeably describe difficulties in self-control leading to repetitive psychopathological behaviors. In this Research Topic, we will differentiate between compulsivity and impulsivity and collect studies on their unique contributions to psychiatric disorders (Addictive Disorders and violent or maladaptive behaviors). In contrast, impulsivity as the predisposition toward rapid, unplanned reactions to internal or external stimuli with diminished regard for the negative consequences of these actions for the individual committing them or others. Impulsivity and compulsivity may be viewed as diametrically opposed, or alternatively, as similar, in that each implies a dysfunction of impulse control. Each involves alterations within a wide range of neural processes including, for example, attention, perception, and coordination of a motor or cognitive response.

Keywords: Impulsivity

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