Impulsivity Profile in the Prison Population - a Comparative Case-Control Study

Impulsivity tends to play an important role in many behavioral disorders, especially in the population of incarcerated offenders, where the prevalence of impulsivity is expected to be high. Prisoners sentenced for violent or property crimes, recruited from 12 participating prisons in the Czech Republic, completed self-reported questionnaires of impulsivity. Results were compared to a non-prison control group from the general population. Analyses pointed toward significantly higher levels of impulsivity in the prison population sample, particularly in terms of motor and non-planning impulsivity, emotion based rash action and sensation seeking, and impulsivity toward physical pleasures, social interactions and money. Findings were adjusted to demographic confounders. The relevance and importance of these findings within the forensic context is discussed.