Barratt Impulsiveness Scale

Barratt Impulsiveness Scale (BIS) is a widely used psychological tool designed to assess the personality/behavioral construct of impulsiveness. Developed by Ernest S. Barratt in 1959, the BIS has undergone several revisions, with the BIS-11, published in 1995 by Patton, Stanford, and Barratt, being the most current version. The scale is instrumental in both clinical and research settings, providing insights into impulsivity-related disorders, such as attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), substance abuse, and various personality disorders.

Overview

The Barratt Impulsiveness Scale is a self-report questionnaire consisting of 30 items that measure different aspects of impulsivity across three subscales:

• Attentional impulsiveness: focusing on the inability to concentrate or focus attention.
• Motor impulsiveness: relating to acting without thinking.
• Non-planning impulsiveness: pertaining to a lack of future planning or forethought.

Respondents rate each item on a scale from 1 (rarely/never) to 4 (almost always/always), with higher scores indicating greater impulsiveness. The BIS-11 is praised for its psychometric properties, including good reliability and validity in various populations.

Application

The BIS is used in both clinical and research contexts to assess impulsivity as a multifaceted construct. In clinical settings, it helps in diagnosing and understanding impulsivity-related disorders, contributing to the development of treatment plans. In research, the BIS-11 facilitates the study of impulsivity's role in psychological and psychiatric conditions, its biological underpinnings, and its impact on behavior.

Implications

High scores on the BIS-11 may indicate a predisposition to impulsivity-related disorders, such as ADHD, borderline personality disorder, and substance abuse. Understanding an individual's impulsivity level can aid in tailoring interventions and therapies to manage or mitigate the impact of these conditions on daily functioning.

Limitations

While the BIS-11 is a valuable tool for assessing impulsivity, it is not without limitations. Self-report measures can be subject to bias, and the BIS-11's reliance on subjective reporting may affect the accuracy of the results. Additionally, cultural and linguistic differences can influence the interpretation of items, potentially impacting the scale's validity across diverse populations.

Conclusion

The Barratt Impulsiveness Scale remains a cornerstone in the assessment of impulsivity, offering valuable insights into a complex trait that influences a wide range of psychological and behavioral outcomes. Its application across clinical and research settings underscores the importance of understanding impulsivity in the diagnosis and treatment of related disorders.