Multi‐impulsive Personality Disorder and Multiple Substance Abuse: evidence from members of self‐help groups

Summary Lacey & Evans (1986) suggest the presence of a subgroup of substance abusers characterized by disorders of impulse control. Utilizing S. B. G. Eysenck et al.s' Impulsivity Questionnaire (1‐7) members of a self‐help group with a history of multiple serial addictions were tested for the trait of impulsivity. It was predicted that impulsivity scores would be higher for this group than for similar individuals in the same self‐help group with histories of addiction to single substances. These results were found, suggesting support for Lacey & Evans' theory of a clinical core of impulsive persons being at high risk for multiple addictions.