Compulsivity as a risk factor for problematic substance use; a longitudinal ERP study.

Abstract

Compulsive behavior is characterized by a lack of behavior flexibility as can be seen in for example clinical forms in obsessive-compulsive disorder. Since these compulsions show remarkable similarities with substance abuse, this compulsivity might be a risk factor for the development of problematic substance use. To test this hypothesis, we propose to measure neurocognitive processes using event-related potentials in children and young adults that have found to be involved in compulsive behavior. These neural mechanisms will then be related to substance use after 1.5 years to identify which neurocognitive mechanisms can be used as predictors of increased problematic substance use.