Validity and reliability of the short version of the UPPS-P impulsive Behavior Scale in patients with substance use disorders

Background Impulsivity is a construct that is part of most theories of personality, and has been associated with psychiatric disorders, substance use and emotion regulation. Objective To evaluate the psychometric properties of the short version of the UPPS-P Impulsive Behavior Scale in adulthood substance users. Method Multi-site cross-sectional study. The UPPS-P short version was given to 246 participants in residential addiction treatment centers in Mexico. For external validity, emotion regulation, substance use, and the dual diagnostic scales were administered. Results The five-factor model (negative urgency, positive urgency, lack of premeditation, lack of perseverance and sensation seeking) had the best goodness-of-fit indices. Good reliability scores (omega coefficient) were obtained in all dimensions, as well as external validity with emotion regulation, substance use and psychiatric symptoms (anxiety, depression and attention deficit and hyperactivity disorder). Conclusions The UPPS-P short version showed good psychometric properties in a Mexican sample and thus can be considered a useful and practical tool in clinical and research contexts.