Exploring social impairment in those with opioid use disorder: linking impulsivity, childhood trauma, and the prefrontal cortex
Abstract Background Challenges with social functioning, which is a hallmark of opioid use disorder (OUD), are a drawback in treatment adherence and maintenance. Yet, little research has explored the underlying mechanisms of this impairment. Impulsivity and corresponding neural alterations may be at...
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2025-03-01
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| author | Thais Costa Macedo de Arruda Laura Sinko Paul Regier Altona Tufanoglu Adrian Curtin Anne M. Teitelman Hasan Ayaz Peter F. Cronholm Anna Rose Childress |
| author_facet | Thais Costa Macedo de Arruda Laura Sinko Paul Regier Altona Tufanoglu Adrian Curtin Anne M. Teitelman Hasan Ayaz Peter F. Cronholm Anna Rose Childress |
| author_sort | Thais Costa Macedo de Arruda |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background Challenges with social functioning, which is a hallmark of opioid use disorder (OUD), are a drawback in treatment adherence and maintenance. Yet, little research has explored the underlying mechanisms of this impairment. Impulsivity and corresponding neural alterations may be at the center of this issue. Childhood adversity, which has been linked to both impulsivity and poorer treatment outcomes, could also affect this relationship. This study explores the relationship between impulsivity, social functioning, and their neural correlates in the prefrontal cortex, while examining the potential moderating effects of childhood trauma in individuals recovering from OUD. Methods Participants with (N = 16) and without (N = 19) social impairment completed a survey (e.g., social functioning, Barrat’s Impulsivity Scale, Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) and cognitive tasks while undergoing neuroimaging. Functional near infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS), a modern, portable, wearable and low-cost neuroimaging technology, was used to measure prefrontal cortex activity during a behavioral inhibition task (Go/No-Go task). Results Those who social functioning survey scores indicated social impairment (n = 16) scored significantly higher on impulsivity scale (t [33]= -3.4, p < 0.01) and reported more depressive symptoms (t [33] = -2.8, p < 0.01) than those reporting no social impairment (n = 19). Social functioning was negatively correlated with impulsivity (r=-0.7, p < 0.001), such that increased impulsivity corresponded to decreased social functioning. Childhood trauma emerged as a moderator of this relationship, but only when controlling for the effects of depression, B=-0.11, p = 0.023. Although both groups had comparable Go/No-Go task performance, the socially impaired group displayed greater activation in the dorsolateral (F(1,100.8) = 7.89, p < 0.01), ventrolateral (F(1,88.8) = 7.33, p < 0.01), and ventromedial (F(1,95.6) = 7.56, p < 0.01) prefrontal cortex duringthe behavioral inhibition task. Conclusion In addition to being more impulsive, individuals with social impairment exhibited greater activation in the prefrontal cortex during the Go/No-Go task. Furthermore, the impact of impulsivity on social functioning varies depending on ACEs, such that higher levels of ACEs corresponded to a stronger negative relationship between impulsivity and social functioning, highlighting its importance in treatment approaches. These findings have implications for addressing social needs and impulsivity of those in recovery, highlighting the importance of a more personalized, integrative, and trauma-informed approach to intervention. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-76c53adeecb4499989a4e3d588a74be7 |
| institution | DOAJ |
| issn | 1471-244X |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-03-01 |
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| spelling | doaj-art-76c53adeecb4499989a4e3d588a74be72025-08-20T03:05:46ZengBMCBMC Psychiatry1471-244X2025-03-0125111310.1186/s12888-025-06503-1Exploring social impairment in those with opioid use disorder: linking impulsivity, childhood trauma, and the prefrontal cortexThais Costa Macedo de Arruda0Laura Sinko1Paul Regier2Altona Tufanoglu3Adrian Curtin4Anne M. Teitelman5Hasan Ayaz6Peter F. Cronholm7Anna Rose Childress8Psychology and Neuroscience Department, College of Liberal Arts, Temple UniversityNursing Department, College of Public Health, Temple UniversityPerelman School of Medicine, University of PennsylvaniaPerelman School of Medicine, University of PennsylvaniaSchool of Biomedical Engineering, Science and Health Systems, Drexel UniversityCollege of Nursing, School of Nursing, Thomas Jefferson University, University of PennsylvaniaSchool of Biomedical Engineering, Science and Health Systems, Drexel UniversityDepartment of Family Medicine and Community Health, Center for Public Health, Leonard Davis Institute of Health Economics, University of PennsylvaniaPerelman School of Medicine, University of PennsylvaniaAbstract Background Challenges with social functioning, which is a hallmark of opioid use disorder (OUD), are a drawback in treatment adherence and maintenance. Yet, little research has explored the underlying mechanisms of this impairment. Impulsivity and corresponding neural alterations may be at the center of this issue. Childhood adversity, which has been linked to both impulsivity and poorer treatment outcomes, could also affect this relationship. This study explores the relationship between impulsivity, social functioning, and their neural correlates in the prefrontal cortex, while examining the potential moderating effects of childhood trauma in individuals recovering from OUD. Methods Participants with (N = 16) and without (N = 19) social impairment completed a survey (e.g., social functioning, Barrat’s Impulsivity Scale, Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) and cognitive tasks while undergoing neuroimaging. Functional near infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS), a modern, portable, wearable and low-cost neuroimaging technology, was used to measure prefrontal cortex activity during a behavioral inhibition task (Go/No-Go task). Results Those who social functioning survey scores indicated social impairment (n = 16) scored significantly higher on impulsivity scale (t [33]= -3.4, p < 0.01) and reported more depressive symptoms (t [33] = -2.8, p < 0.01) than those reporting no social impairment (n = 19). Social functioning was negatively correlated with impulsivity (r=-0.7, p < 0.001), such that increased impulsivity corresponded to decreased social functioning. Childhood trauma emerged as a moderator of this relationship, but only when controlling for the effects of depression, B=-0.11, p = 0.023. Although both groups had comparable Go/No-Go task performance, the socially impaired group displayed greater activation in the dorsolateral (F(1,100.8) = 7.89, p < 0.01), ventrolateral (F(1,88.8) = 7.33, p < 0.01), and ventromedial (F(1,95.6) = 7.56, p < 0.01) prefrontal cortex duringthe behavioral inhibition task. Conclusion In addition to being more impulsive, individuals with social impairment exhibited greater activation in the prefrontal cortex during the Go/No-Go task. Furthermore, the impact of impulsivity on social functioning varies depending on ACEs, such that higher levels of ACEs corresponded to a stronger negative relationship between impulsivity and social functioning, highlighting its importance in treatment approaches. These findings have implications for addressing social needs and impulsivity of those in recovery, highlighting the importance of a more personalized, integrative, and trauma-informed approach to intervention.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12888-025-06503-1Opioid use disorderSocial functioningImpulsivityChildhood traumaPrefrontal cortexBrain |
| spellingShingle | Thais Costa Macedo de Arruda Laura Sinko Paul Regier Altona Tufanoglu Adrian Curtin Anne M. Teitelman Hasan Ayaz Peter F. Cronholm Anna Rose Childress Exploring social impairment in those with opioid use disorder: linking impulsivity, childhood trauma, and the prefrontal cortex BMC Psychiatry Opioid use disorder Social functioning Impulsivity Childhood trauma Prefrontal cortex Brain |
| title | Exploring social impairment in those with opioid use disorder: linking impulsivity, childhood trauma, and the prefrontal cortex |
| title_full | Exploring social impairment in those with opioid use disorder: linking impulsivity, childhood trauma, and the prefrontal cortex |
| title_fullStr | Exploring social impairment in those with opioid use disorder: linking impulsivity, childhood trauma, and the prefrontal cortex |
| title_full_unstemmed | Exploring social impairment in those with opioid use disorder: linking impulsivity, childhood trauma, and the prefrontal cortex |
| title_short | Exploring social impairment in those with opioid use disorder: linking impulsivity, childhood trauma, and the prefrontal cortex |
| title_sort | exploring social impairment in those with opioid use disorder linking impulsivity childhood trauma and the prefrontal cortex |
| topic | Opioid use disorder Social functioning Impulsivity Childhood trauma Prefrontal cortex Brain |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12888-025-06503-1 |
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