Engaging in risky behavior is not always a conscious choice. Impulsivity that is a symptom of a mental health condition can often be linked to physical differences in the brain that serve as indicators that a person may be at a greater risk of acting upon their impulses—however, scientists are still trying to find the exact cause.
“Impulsivity is thought to stem from disrupted neurochemistry in the prefrontal cortex (or prefrontal lobe) of the brain, which is located behind the forehead,” says Dr. Kelley. “This region of the brain is important in planning, evaluating risk, motivation and inhibition (which is not acting). Problematic neuronal connectivity may also underpin impulsivity.”
While researchers are still trying to pinpoint the exact physiological cause of impulsive behavior, the reasons someone experiences impulsivity can vary, explains Diana Concannon, Psy.D., a forensic psychologist who serves as associate provost for Strategic Initiatives and Partnerships at Alliant International University. “For some, there is a genetic element that may be the result from mutations that affect the normal production of neurotransmitters involved in mood and cognition, such as serotonin and dopamine. For others, impulsivity results from learned behavior, such as not being supported to tolerate frustration, ambiguity or ambivalence,” adds Dr. Concannon.
Certain mental health conditions most commonly associated with impulsive behavior include:
Attention Deficit-Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)
Attention Deficit-Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is a psychiatric condition that can manifest in developmentally inappropriate levels of inattentiveness, hyperactivity or impulsivity. ADHD is considered a dysfunction of executive functioning, predominantly a frontal lobe activity, and is associated with cognitive and functional difficulties that relate to brain abnormalities, though there are no current standard laboratory or imaging test. People with ADHD show difficulty with attention and focus, decision making and emotional regulation.
Borderline Personality Disorder
Impulsivity, as well as difficulty regulating emotions, are two key symptoms of borderline personality disorder (BPD).
Impulsive behaviors connected to BPD tend to be directed more inwardly, explains Dr. Kelley, but can also affect relationships. Some examples of this behavior include “unstable self image, turbulent emotions, rapid mood swings (occurring within the span of a day) and risk of self harm,” she continues.
Bipolar Disorder
Impulsivity connected to bipolar disorder, which is a mental health condition characterized by rapid mood swings, can be episodic, meaning it can occur with other symptoms several days at a time. An increase impulsivity or inattention is also often accompanied by elevated mood, grandiosity and other features specific to bipolar disorder
Antisocial Personality Disorder
Antisocial personality disorder can be described as a condition that involves a blatant disregard of consequences and the rights/feelings of others. Often, individuals living with antisocial personality disorder act impulsively and do not plan ahead or consider the consequences their actions will have on others.
Kleptomania
Kleptomania is categorized as a disruptive, impulse-control and conduct disorder, in which a person experiences “recurrent failure to resist impulses to steal objects that are not needed for personal use or for their monetary value, according to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition (DSM-5).
Stroke or Brain Injury
A stroke or traumatic brain injury can create sustained damage that affects a person’s brain function. This damage “may alter attention span and or ability to control or regulate emotions and exercise judgment,” says Dr. Kelley. “All these factors may lead to personality changes and impulsive behavior.”
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