It was suggested that impulsivity is a temperamental risk factor for alcohol use and may be a fundamental mechanism in both the onset of excessive alcohol use and the relapse to alcohol use. Aim of this study was to evaluate the changes in impulsivity scores among alcohol dependents 12 month after inpatient treatment.

Among 78 consecutively admitted male alcohol dependents, 58 were examined by face to face interview 12 months after discharge from hospital. Patients were investigated with the Barratt Impulsiveness Scale, version 11 (BIS-11) (10) both at the baseline and at the end of 12 months.

Among 58 alcohol dependent inpatients 61.8% (n=32) were considered as relapsed to heroin use during 12 month follow-up. Sociodemographic variables did not differ between the groups. Mean impulsivity scores did not differ between remission and relapsed groups at baseline, whereas only non-planning impulsivity was higher in relapsed group at follow-up. Impulsivity score decreased during 12 month follow-up in remission group, whereas increased in relapsed group. Among dimensions of impulsivity non-planning impulsivity decreased in remission group, whereas attentional impulsivity increased.

Results of the present study may suggest that while attentional impulsiveness may be the cause of alcohol use, non-planning impulsiveness may also be a vulnerability factor for alcohol dependency and relapse.