Impulsivity, temporal perspective, and posthospital adjustment of neuropsychiatric patients

Hypotheses were tested regarding relationships between impulsivity as a personality construct and various biographical characteristics among neuropsychiatric patients referred for rehabilitation. Seventy-five males and five females (mean age 33) with mixed diagnoses served as Ss. Variables included an ego-delay measure obtained from temporal estimations, perceptions of temporal dominance and relatedness obtained from Cottle's Circles Test, Ss' ages, and a measure of long-term posthospital adjustment. Ego-delaying patients were significantly younger, diminished the importance of their past temporal mode relative to the present and future, perceived the future as a dominant temporal mode relative to the present and past, and achieved significantly better long-term adjustment following psychiatric hospitalization.