Autoeficácia para dirigir, desengajamento moral e impulsividade em motoristas / Self-efficacy to drive, impulsivity and moral disengagement in drivers / La eficacia de la unidad, la impulsividad y lo desenganje moral de los conductores

O objetivo deste estudo foi verificar possíveis diferenças nos escores dos instrumentos que avaliam a autoeficácia para dirigir, o desengajamento moral e a impulsividade em razão de variáveis como sexo, faixa etária, tempo de habilitação e frequência com que se dirige, bem como analisar a predição destes construtos para envolvimento em multas e acidentes de trânsito. Participaram 500 motoristas em processo de renovação da CNH, com idades entre 23 e 78 anos, sendo 60,4% do sexo masculino. Os instrumentos utilizados foram a Escala de Autoeficácia para Dirigir (EADir), a Escala de Justificativas de Motoristas (EJM) e a Escala de Avaliação da Impulsividade (EsAvI-A). Os resultados indicaram diferenças significativas para todas as variáveis sociodemográficas e que os construtos predizem multas e acidentes de trânsito. Esses achados contribuem para a compreensão de alguns comportamentos dos condutores e reforçam os indícios de que infrações e acidentes de trânsito são multideterminados.(AU)

The aim of this study was to investigate possible differences in the scores of instruments that assess the efficacy to drive, impulsivity and moral disengagement because of variables such as sex, age, time of driver license and the driving frequency, as well as analyzing the prediction of these constructs for involvement in fines and traffic accidents. 500 drivers participated in the process of renewal of CNH, aged 23-78 years, 60.4% male. The instruments used were the Self-Efficacy Scale to Drive (EADir), Scale justifications drivers (EJM) and the Scale for Assessing Impulsivity (EsAvI-A). The results indicated significant differences for all sociodemographic variables and that the constructs predict fines and traffic accidents. These findings contribute to the understanding of some driver behavior and reinforce the evidence that violations and traffic accidents are multidetermined.(AU)

El objetivo de este estudio fue investigar las posibles diferencias en las puntuaciones de los instrumentos que evalúan la eficacia de la unidad, la impulsividad y la desenganje moral debido a variables como el sexo, la edad, el tiempo de activación y la frecuencia con la que se dirige, así como el análisis de la predicción de estos construcciones para la participación en multas y accidentes de tránsito. 500 pilotos participaron en el proceso de renovación de la CNH, con edades entre 23-78 años, el 60,4% hombres. Los instrumentos utilizados fueron la Escala de Autoeficacia para Conducir (EADir) Escala Justificaciones de conductores (EJM) y la Escala para la Evaluación de la Impulsividad (EsAvI-A). Los resultados indicaron diferencias significativas para todas las variables sociodemográficas y los construtos predicen multas y accidentes de tránsito. Estos resultados contribuyen a la comprensión de algunos comportamientos del conductor y refuerzan la evidencia de que las violaciónes y accidentes de tránsito multideterminadas.(AU)

Meta-cognitions in tourette syndrome, tic disorders, and body-focused repetitive disorder.

OBJECTIVE: To explore if self-reported presence of thinking about tics or body-focused repetitive behaviours (BFRBs; gests) are direct triggers of tic or gest onset in 3 groups: Tourette syndrome (TS; n =18), persistent chronic tic disorders (TDs; n = 42), and a comparison group with BFRB (n = 36). METHOD: The 3 groups completed a thinking about tics inventory, listing 22 items derived from clinician consensus that asked whether thoughts always, sometimes, or never exclusively triggered tic onset. Other questionnaires measured mood, perfectionism, impulsivity, premonitory urge, and self-rated tension. Sixty-three participants completed the inventory twice, and the inventory was completed pre- and post-behavioural intervention by a further 54. RESULTS: The ranking of the thoughts reported as likely to trigger tics or gests was positively correlated across TD and BFRB groups. Exploratory principal components analysis of a reduced 12-item set (the thinking about tics inventory) in TS and TD groups revealed that such thoughts could be grouped into 3 separate subscales: thoughts about the interference of tics or gests, thoughts anticipating tics or gests, and thoughts about whether the person has permission to perform the tic or the gest. The 3 sets of subscales showed good and acceptable internal consistency and overall score showed good test-retest reliability, suggesting thoughts about tics or gests are robust and measurable. The subscales correlated with impulsivity, tic or behaviour severity, and ratings of frequency decreased post-behavioural treatment. CONCLUSIONS: Thinking about tics or gests is reported as triggering tics or gests in both TD and BFRB, and meta-cognition seems independent of premonitory sensations and relates to distinct clinical characteristics in each clinical group.

Depressed parents' attachment: effects on offspring suicidal behavior in a longitudinal family study.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate relationships of depressed parents' attachment style to offspring suicidal behavior. METHOD: 244 parents diagnosed with a DSM-IV depressive episode completed the Adult Attachment Questionnaire at study entry. Baseline and yearly follow-up interviews of their 488 offspring tracked suicidal behavior and psychopathology. Survival analysis and marginal regression models with correlated errors for siblings investigated the relationship between parent insecure attachment traits and offspring characteristics. Data analyzed were collected 1992-2008 during a longitudinal family study completed January 31, 2014. RESULTS: Parental avoidant attachment predicted offspring suicide attempts at a trend level (P = .083). Parental anxious attachment did not predict offspring attempts (P = .961). In secondary analyses, anxious attachment in parents was associated with offspring impulsivity (P = .034) and, in offspring suicide attempters, was associated with greater intent (P = .045) and lethality of attempts (P = .003). Avoidant attachment in parents was associated with offspring impulsivity (P = .025) and major depressive disorder (P = .012). Parental avoidant attachment predicted a greater number of suicide attempts (P = .048) and greater intent in offspring attempters (P = .003). Results were comparable after adjusting for parent diagnosis of borderline personality disorder. CONCLUSIONS: Insecure avoidant, but not anxious, attachment in depressed parents may predict offspring suicide attempt. Insecure parental attachment traits were associated with impulsivity and major depressive disorder in all offspring and with more severe suicidal behavior in offspring attempters. Insecure parental attachment merits further study as a potential target to reduce risk of offspring psychopathology and more severe suicidal behavior.

Acessibilidade crônica e agenda setting: interface entre a psicologia e a comunicação no estudo da beleza / Accesibilidad crónica y agenda setting: interface entre la psicología y la comunicación en el estudio de la belleza / Chronic accessibility and agenda setting: interface between psychology and communication in a study about beauty

O objetivo deste trabalho foi estudar o automatismo e a acessibilidade crônica, por meio da comparação entre a comunicação formal (mídia) e a informal (discurso verbal), testando a hipótese do agenda setting como uma possibilidade de investigação. O Estudo 1 foi realizado por meio de entrevistas semiestruturadas a grupos diferentes de mulheres. O Estudo 2 foi de análise de conteúdo de revistas femininas baseado nas categorias encontradas no Estudo 1. Os resultados suportam parcialmente a proposta teórica de agendamento e sugerem três dimensões discursivas: Finalidades da Beleza, Aspectos que Impactam no Cuidado, Tipos de Cuidado. A mídia não influenciou como se esperava. As frequências são diferentes entre o discurso midiático e o verbal.(AU)

El objetivo de este trabajo es estudiar el automatismo y la accesibilidad crónica, mediante la comparación entre la comunicación formal (medios de comunicación) y la informal (discurso verbal), testando la hipótesis del agenda setting como una posibilidad de investigación. El Estudio 1 fue realizado con entrevistas semiestructuradas a grupos diferentes de mujeres. El Estudio 2 fue de análisis de contenido de revistas femeninas, embasado en las categorías encontradas en el Estudio 1. Los resultados corroboraran parcialmente la propuesta teórica del agendamiento y sugirieran tres dimensiones discursivas: Finalidades de la Belleza, Aspectos que impactan el Cuidado y Tipos de Cuidado. Los medios de comunicación no influenciaran como se esperaba. Las frecuencias son diferentes entre el discurso verbal y el de los medios de comunicación.(AU)

The present research aims to investigate automatism and chronic accessibility, through a comparison between formal (media) and informal (verbal discourse) communication styles, providing evidences for the agenda setting as mean for investigation. In Study 1, semi-structured interviews were made in different groups of women. In the second study, the content of feminine magazines was analyzed, based on the categories found in the latter. Results partially support the theoretical proposal of agenda setting, and suggest three discursive dimensions: Beauty Finality, Aspects that impact in Care, Types of Cares. Results also suggest that media does not have the expected influence. Different frequencies were found for the meiotic and verbal discourses.(AU)

Relations between trait impulsivity, behavioral impulsivity, physiological arousal, and risky sexual behavior among young men.

The current study examined how impulsivity-related traits (negative urgency, sensation seeking, and positive urgency), behavioral measures of risk taking and reward seeking, and physiological reactivity related to three different risky sexual behaviors in sexually active undergraduate men (N = 135). Regression analyses indicated that sensation seeking and behavioral risk-taking predicted unique variance in number of sexual partners. These findings suggest that, for young men, acquisition of new partners is associated with need for excitement and reward and willingness to take risks to meet those needs. Sensation seeking, behavioral risk-taking, and skin conductance reactivity to arousing stimuli was related to ever having engaged in sex with a stranger, indicating that, for men, willingness to have sex with a stranger is related not only to the need for excitement and risk-taking but also with innate responsiveness to arousing environmental triggers. In contrast, regression analyses indicated that young men who were impulsive in the context of negative emotions were less likely to use condoms, suggesting that emotion-based impulsivity may be an important factor in negligent prophylactic use. This study adds to the current understanding of the divergence between the correlates of risky sexual behaviors and may lend utility to the development of individualized HIV prevention programming.

Impulsivity and physical aggression: examining the moderating role of anxiety.

Individuals vary in their propensity to engage in aggressive behaviors, and recent research has sought to identify individual differences that contribute to a person's propensity for physical aggression. Previous research has shown that impulsivity and aggression have a consistent relational pattern among many different samples. However, not all impulsive people will engage in aggressive behavior, perhaps because of other factors such as level of physiological arousal from anxiety. Specifically, one factor, namely physiological symptoms of anxiety such as those often associated with panic, may help as a predictor variable to be used in risk assessments or subclassification systems of aggression. Participants included 689 college students who completed self-report questionnaires assessing impulsivity, physical aggression, and anxiety. Multivariate hierarchical regression analyses were conducted. Greater scores on the measure of impulsivity were associated with higher levels of reported physical aggression. The interaction (impulsivity x anxiety) was not statistically significant, suggesting that impulsivity has the same effect on physical aggression regardless of the level of anxiety. There was a main effect for anxiety, which was associated with higher levels of reported physical aggression. Our findings may help inform typologies for identifying predictor variables used in risk assessment and treatment planning.

[Trauma, developmental stages, and motivational abilities in indentured Swiss child laborers in old age]. / Traumata, Entwicklungsperioden und motivationale Fähigkeiten bei Schweizer Verdingkindern im Alter.

OBJECTIVES: The study examined the relationship between potential traumatic events in childhood and motivational abilities in old adulthood according to developmental stage. METHODS: The motivational abilities of self-efficacy, conscientiousness and impulsivity (self control) were investigated in a sample of 114 formerly indentured Swiss child laborers. Adversities were assessed by the Childhood Trauma Questionnaire (CTQ). The sample was split into four age groups according to the beginning of the potential trauma: infancy (0-2), preschool (3-5), early childhood (6-9), and early adolescence (≥ 10). RESULTS: The strongest relationship was found between self-efficacy and CTQ in the group "early adolescence," followed by the relationship between conscientiousness and CTQ in the same group. Impulsivity and CTQ were most strongly associated in the "preschool" group. CONCLUSION: Childhood adversities seem to have a negative impact on self-efficacy and conscientiousness after the age of ten. In contrast, self-control seems to be affected by the deleterious effect of trauma or adversity already at an earlier age.

Trait impulsivity and impaired prefrontal impulse inhibition function in adolescents with internet gaming addiction revealed by a Go/No-Go fMRI study.

BACKGROUND: Recent studies suggest that Internet gaming addiction (IGA) is an impulse disorder, or is at least related to impulse control disorders. In the present study, we hypothesized that different facets of trait impulsivity may be specifically linked to the brain regions with impaired impulse inhibition function in IGA adolescents. METHODS: Seventeen adolescents with IGA and seventeen healthy controls were scanned during performance of a response-inhibition Go/No-Go task using a 3.0 T MRI scanner. The Barratt Impulsiveness Scale (BIS)-11 was used to assess impulsivity. RESULTS: There were no differences in the behavioral performance on the Go/No-Go task between the groups. However, the IGA group was significantly hyperactive during No-Go trials in the left superior medial frontal gyrus, right anterior cingulate cortex, right superior/middle frontal gyrus, left inferior parietal lobule, left precentral gyrus, and left precuneus and cuneus. Further, the bilateral middle temporal gyrus, bilateral inferior temporal gyrus, and right superior parietal lobule were significantly hypoactive during No-Go trials. Activation of the left superior medial frontal gyrus was positively associated with BIS-11 and Chen Internet Addiction Scale (CIAS) total score across IGA participants. CONCLUSIONS: Our data suggest that the prefrontal cortex may be involved in the circuit modulating impulsivity, while its impaired function may relate to high impulsivity in adolescents with IGA, which may contribute directly to the Internet addiction process.

Impulsivity, "advergames," and food intake.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Previous studies have focused on the effect of food advertisements on the caloric intake of children. However, the role of individual susceptibility in this effect is unclear. The aim of this study was to examine the role of impulsivity in the effect of advergames that promote energy-dense snacks on children's snack intake. METHODS: First, impulsivity scores were assessed with a computer task. Then a randomized between-subject design was conducted with 261 children aged 7 to 10 years who played an advergame promoting either energy-dense snacks or nonfood products. As an extra manipulation, half of the children in each condition were rewarded for refraining from eating, the other half were not. Children could eat freely while playing the game. Food intake was measured. The children then completed questionnaire measures, and were weighed and measured. RESULTS: Overall, playing an advergame containing food cues increased general caloric intake. Furthermore, rewarding children to refrain from eating decreased their caloric intake. Finally, rewarding impulsive children to refrain from eating had no influence when they were playing an advergame promoting energy-dense snacks, whereas it did lead to reduced intake among low impulsive children and children who played nonfood advergames. CONCLUSIONS: Playing an advergame promoting energy-dense snacks contributes to increased caloric intake in children. The advergame promoting energy-dense snacks overruled the inhibition task to refrain from eating among impulsive children, making it more difficult for them to refrain from eating. The findings suggest that impulsivity plays an important role in susceptibility to food advertisements.

Differentiating between comorbidity and symptom overlap in ADHD and early onset bipolar disorder.

Reported rates of comorbidity between early onset bipolar disorder (BD) and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) have a wide range, perhaps due to developmental issues and differences in interpretation of overlapping symptoms. We compared questionnaire-based and neuropsychological measures of inattention and impulsivity/hyperactivity, in children/adolescents with ADHD combined subtype (ADHD-C; n26), concurrent ADHD-C and BD (n15), BD (n25) with Controls (n69). Sub-analyses were performed on BD with and without inattention symptoms. The two ADHD-C groups displayed neuropsychological impairments that were not found in the BD group in spite of subjective and questionnaire-rated inattention. The findings caution against over-diagnosis of ADHD in BD.

Alcohol use and alcohol-related consequences: associations with emotion regulation difficulties.

BACKGROUND: Understanding factors associated with alcohol-related consequences is an important area of research. Emotional functioning has been associated with alcohol-related consequences but there is less research examining a comprehensive underlying model of emotional regulation. The Difficulties in Emotion Regulation Scale (DERS) is a recent measure developed to assess six facets of emotion regulation difficulties that contribute to overall emotional functioning. OBJECTIVES: The current study examines associations between these six facets of emotion regulation difficulties and problematic alcohol use. METHODS: Participants (n = 1758 college students) were recruited as part of a larger study and were asked to complete online questionnaires assessing demographics, alcohol use and problems, and emotion regulation difficulties. RESULTS: Negative binomial hurdle models for alcohol use and alcohol-related consequences were estimated. Impulse control difficulties were positively related to the number of drinks consumed during the week among active drinkers. Non-acceptance of emotional responses, impulse control difficulties, lack of emotional clarity, and difficulties engaging in goal-directed behavior were all positively associated with number of consequences endorsed. Difficulty engaging in goal-directed behavior was also positively associated with the likelihood of experiencing any alcohol-related consequences. CONCLUSIONS: The findings support previous research indicating that emotion-regulation difficulties are broadly associated with alcohol-related consequences. Results suggest exposure and/or mindfulness based prevention/interventions with emotion focused psychoeducation may offer one path to reducing alcohol-related consequences among college students.

Mindfulness training as an intervention for substance user incarcerated adolescents: a pilot grounded theory study.

Mindfulness-based treatment for adolescents is a clinical and research field still in its infancy. Literature is needed to address specific subcultural populations to expand this growing field. Further, minimal literature addresses the process of teaching mindfulness to adolescents. The current study investigated how to effectively teach mindfulness to 10 incarcerated adolescent substance users (N = 10) in an urban California detention setting. A grounded theory approach was used to collect and analyze interview data over a 1-year period during 2011 and 2012 in order to develop an initial theory for teaching mindfulness to incarcerated adolescent substance users. Implications, limitations, and future research are discussed.

Anxiety, depression, impulsivity and substance misuse in violent and non-violent adolescent boys in detention in China.

The present investigation aims to identify the factors which differentiate violent from non-violent juvenile offenders, with a particular emphasis on the association between internalizing psychiatric morbidity (i.e. anxiety and depression), impulsivity, substance misuse, and violence. A total of 323 incarcerated male juvenile offenders from one of three Youth Detention Centers (YDCs) in China were recruited between August 2007 and November 2008. Interviews were conducted by trained psychiatrists using the Barratt Impulsivity Scale (BIS-11), the Screen for Child Anxiety Related Emotional Disorders (SCARED), and the Birleson Depression Self-Rating Scale (DSRS) to assess impulsivity, anxiety and depression, respectively. The Schedule for Affective Disorder and Schizophrenia for School-Age Children Present and Lifetime (K-SADS-PL) was also used to assess psychiatric diagnoses. Violent offenders had significantly higher BIS-11 total scores, and attention and nonplanning subscale scores (p<0.05). In the multiple logistic regression model, substance use disorders (SUD) and BIS-11 total scores independently predicted violence. Prison-based treatment services designed to reduce impulsivity and substance misuse in juvenile detention facilities should be prioritized.

Comparisons of prisoners who make or do not make suicide attempts and further who make one or multiple attempts.

Suicidal behavior among prisoners is a major problem. The objective of this study was to compare prisoners who have made an attempt at suicide vs non-attempters and further to compare single vs multiple suicide attempts. Among 1,537 prisoners, 200 (13%) had a lifetime history of attempting suicide and 92 (6%) had made multiple attempts. Those who had made multiple or single attempts were compared on socio-demographic, developmental, personality, forensic, and psychiatric variables. In a re-analysis we also compared non-attempters with attempters in this larger sample. The comparison showed that prisoners who had made multiple attempts had experienced significantly more childhood trauma, were more introverted, less resilient, had a history of self-mutilation, and had more suicidal ideation. Anger and hostility scores and criminal and violence histories significantly differentiated prisoners who had attempted from those who had never attempted but they did not differentiate multiple from single attempters. Having a history of multiple attempts may be indicative of more severe psychopathology in prisoners, as found in other populations. These findings may be helpful in predicting which prisoner is at increased risk of exhibiting suicidal behavior while incarcerated and after release.

Examination of a short English version of the UPPS-P Impulsive Behavior Scale.

The current study examines a recently developed short English version of the UPPS-P Impulsive Behavior Scale. Participants were 251 undergraduate students (59.3% male; mean age=21.16 (SD=4.18); 72% Caucasian). The short version generally replicated the internal consistency (0.74-0.88 across subscales) and inter-scale correlations of the full English UPPS-P. Moreover, the estimated loss of shared variance was small (0%-6.4% reductions across subscales) as compared to a 66% time-savings. Structural equation modeling replicated previously supported factor structures and relationships to external outcomes using the full UPPS-P. This short UPPS-P scale should be considered a valid and reliable alternative to the full UPPS-P in English-speaking non-clinical adult samples.

Differences between non-suicidal self injury and suicide attempt in Chinese adolescents.

PURPOSE: Self-harm behaviors are predominant health risks among adolescents. This study aimed to elucidate the lifetime prevalence and differences in social psychological factors between non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI) and suicide attempt (SA) among Chinese adolescents. METHOD: Data were collected from 2131 middle school students with a mean age of 13.92 (SD 1.63) years (49.1% girls). Participants were asked to self-report NSSI and SA over their lifetime. Post hoc tests pairwise comparisons and multinomial logistic regression analyses were conducted to investigate differences and similarities between subjects with NSSI and attempted suicide. RESULTS: The prevalence of lifetime NSSI and SA endorsed by the participants were 23.2% and 3.2%, respectively, and the co-occurrence of these two behaviors (NSSI+SA) was reported to 2.3%. Boys were comparable with girls in the prevalence rate of NSSI, but not in the rate of SA. It revealed that single-child was not the risk factor for self-harm behavior in Mainland China, but lower higher family cohesion and adaptability. Factors that distinguished the NSSI+SA group from the NSSI only group were female gender, lower grade, impulsivity, health risk behaviors and family cohesion. Being female gender, single-parent family, depressive symptoms and impulsivity were factors differentiating attempted suicide from NSSI. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings suggest that Chinese adolescents engaging both in NSSI and SA had severe suicidal attempts and were different from those who engaged in NSSI alone.

The association between premenstrual dysphoric disorder and internet use disorder.

Premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD) is an important women's mental health issue. This study aimed to investigate the association between Internet use disorder (IUD), PMDD, and their associated factors, such as stress and impulsivity. Women with PMDD (n = 79) and controls (n = 76) were recruited from the community. The diagnoses of PMDD and IUD were confirmed by psychiatric interviews. Participants were evaluated with the Chen Internet Addiction Scale, Perceived Stress Scale, and Barratt Impulsiveness Scale in both the premenstrual and follicular phases. Women with PMDD were more likely to have IUD. Women with PMDD had greater severity of IUD, perceived stress, and impulsivity than the control group in the premenstrual phase. Impulsivity mediated the association between PMDD and IUD, while both impulsivity and perceived stress mediated the association between PMDD and IUD severity. Thus, IUD should be evaluated and treated among women with PMDD, particularly for those with higher impulsivity or higher perceived stress. Strategies for stress management and counseling for impulsivity should be provided to women with PMDD, particular to those comorbid with IUD.

New developments in human neurocognition: clinical, genetic, and brain imaging correlates of impulsivity and compulsivity.

Impulsivity and compulsivity represent useful conceptualizations that involve dissociable cognitive functions, which are mediated by neuroanatomically and neurochemically distinct components of cortico-subcortical circuitry. The constructs were historically viewed as diametrically opposed, with impulsivity being associated with risk-seeking and compulsivity with harm-avoidance. However, they are increasingly recognized to be linked by shared neuropsychological mechanisms involving dysfunctional inhibition of thoughts and behaviors. In this article, we selectively review new developments in the investigation of the neurocognition of impulsivity and compulsivity in humans, in order to advance our understanding of the pathophysiology of impulsive, compulsive, and addictive disorders and indicate new directions for research.

Time horizons and substance use among African American youths living in disadvantaged urban areas.

Transitioning from adolescence to full-fledged adulthood is often challenging, and young people who live in disadvantaged urban neighborhoods face additional obstacles and experience disproportionately higher negative outcomes, including substance abuse and related risk behaviors. This study investigated whether substance use among African Americans ages 15 to 25 (M=18.86 years) living in such areas was related to present-dominated time perspectives and higher delay discounting. Participants (N=344, 110 males, 234 females) living in Deep South disadvantaged urban neighborhoods were recruited using Respondent Driven Sampling, an improved peer-referral sampling method suitable for accessing this hard-to-reach target group. Structured field interviews assessed alcohol, tobacco, and illicit drug use and risk/protective factors, including time perspectives (Zimbardo Time Perspective Inventory [ZTPI]) and behavioral impulsivity (delay discounting task). As predicted, substance use was positively related to a greater ZTPI orientation toward present pleasure and a lower tendency to plan and achieve future goals. Although the sample as a whole showed high discounting of delayed rewards, discount rates did not predict substance use. The findings suggest that interventions to lengthen time perspectives and promote enriched views of future possible selves may prevent and reduce substance use among disadvantaged youths. Discontinuities among the discounting and time perspective variables in relation to substance use merit further investigation.

Temporal profile of fronto-striatal-limbic activity during implicit decisions in drug dependence.

BACKGROUND: Substance dependence is associated with impaired decision-making and altered fronto-striatal-limbic activity. Both greater and lesser brain activity have been reported in drug users compared to controls during decision-making. Inconsistent results might be explained by group differences in the temporal profile of the functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) response. While most previous studies model a canonical hemodynamic response, a finite impulse response (FIR) model measures fMRI signal at discrete time points without assuming a temporal profile. We compared brain activity during decision-making and feedback in substance users and controls using two models: a canonical hemodynamic response function (HRF) and a FIR model. METHODS: 37 substance-dependent individuals (SDI) and 43 controls performed event-related decision-making during fMRI scanning. Brain activity was compared across group using canonical HRF and FIR models. RESULTS: Compared to controls, SDI were impaired at decision-making. The canonical HRF model showed that SDI had significantly greater fronto-striatal-limbic activity during decisions and less activity during feedback than controls. The FIR model confirmed greater activity in SDI during decisions. However, lower activity in SDI during feedback corresponded to a lower post-stimulus undershoot of the hemodynamic response. CONCLUSIONS: Greater activity in fronto-striatal-limbic pathways in SDI compared to controls is consistent with prior work, further supporting the hypothesis that abnormalities in these circuits underlie impaired decision-making. We demonstrate for the first time using FIR analysis that lower activity during feedback may simply reflect the tail end of the hemodynamic response to decision, the post-stimulus undershoot, rather than an actual difference in feedback response.