Impulsivity and Its Treatment

Identification, description and therapeutic management of impulsivity, which underlies the mechanism and coexistence of many neurological and psychiatric diseases, are considered to be very crucial. Treatment can be applied in two ways; either for the disorder that occurs with impulsivity or for the treatment of the impulsive behavior itself. Disorders associated with or accompanied by impulsivity can be classified as borderline and antisocial personality disorders, schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, attention deficit and hyperactivity disorder, eating disorders, substance use disorders. In addition, impulsivity can manifest itself within the context of diagnostic criteria implicated in the impulse control disorders which include pathological gambling, intermittent explosive disorder, pyromania, kleptomania and trichotillomania. Behavioral and pharmacological interventions that are effective in treatment plans for these disorders should be integrated. These can be listed as insight-oriented psychotherapy and cognitive-behavioral psychotherapies, contingency management, and pharmacotherapy. The aim of the current review is to understand impulsivity and discuss its relation to other psychiatric disorders and to focus on the treatment of impulsivity.