Relationship Between Impulsivity and Plasma Uric Acid Levels in Patients with Substance Use Disorders

Abstract

Objective: Impulsivity is an important neurobiological process that contributes to individual differences in substance use disorder vulnerability. Uric acid has been mentioned to be telated to some psychiatric disorders characterized by impulsivity. No other study has yet examined the relationship between UA plasma concentration and impulsivity in patients with substance use disorders.Methods: Eighty patients diagnosed with substance use disorders and eighty healthy controls were included. A protein-rich diet was given to all subjects for one week. Blood samples were obtained and plasma uric acid levels were recorded as in mg/dl after being centrifuged for 15 min at 3000 X g and kept at -80°C. Impulsivity was evaluated using the Turkish version of Barrat Impulsivity Scale (BIS). Results: The mean uric acid concentrations (t/?2=3.3; p