Journal of Clinical and Diagnostic Research. 2023 Jul, Vol-17(7): LC33-LC37 33 33 DOI: 10.7860/JCDR/2023/62034.18235 Original Article Public Health Section Prevalence of Impulsive Behaviour among Students in a Medical College: A Cross-sectional Study from Southern India KARTHIKEYAN KULOTHUNGAN 1 , K NAWIN JAI VIGNESH 2 , M TAMILARASAN 3 , JV GNANAGURUBHARAN 4 INTRODUCTION According to Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, “Behaviour is the mirror in which everyone shows their image” [1]. A person can be defined by his name and his status, but he is judged by his behaviour and character. The personality of a person decides his future apart from his experiences, knowledge and his wealth. The International Classification of Diseases-10 has stated emotionally unstable personality disorder as impulsive tendency to act without considering consequences and with affective instability [2]. Impulsive behaviour is an urge to act without thinking in any critical situations. The result of such tendency to act without any forethought, insensitive to consequences and inability to inhibit inappropriate behaviours may need not be a sign of trouble on every occasion [3]. It is a multidimensional construct that encompasses cognitive, emotional, personality, and behavioural elements [4]. Impulsivity is a core characteristic of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder [5] but has also been implicated in the development and maintenance of many other psychiatric conditions, such as substance abuse disorders [6,7] behavioural addictions [8] eating disorders [9] and other externalising behavioural disorders [10,11]. Impulsivity has also been linked to emotion deregulation leading to self-harm [12] and suicidal attempts among youth [13]. To an extent, this kind of impulsive behaviour are common among adolescents and teenagers. Thus, early identification of impulsive behaviour and the factors associated with such impulsivity will be useful for effective treatment and prognosis against impulse control-related psychiatric disorders. Risk behaviour and impulsive behaviour is defined as “a specific form of behaviour, which is proven to be associated with increased susceptibility to a specific disease or ill-health” [14]. In recent trends, risk-taking behaviours have become a way to show-off and boast among adolescence. Most teenagers are involved in life-threatening activities without realising the vulnerability and dire consequences of their actions. For example, reckless behaviour, Criminal activities such as stealing, sexual behaviour, smoking, heavy drinking, drug use and abuse, and reckless driving are regarded as potentially risky behaviours that may have negative long-term consequences [15]. A great deal of research has focused on the identification of factors that elevate or reduce the risk of engaging in high-risk behaviours among young people [16]. Impulsive behaviour and risk-taking behaviour in adolescence have the chance of disrupting the balance of their entire life. Studies and researches related to impulsive behaviour are minimal [17-19] and remain a blind area for any effective interventions to be applied hence present study was conducted to explore impulsive behaviour among medical students and the factors associated with such impulsive behaviour. MATERIALS AND METHODS A cross-sectional study was conducted among medical students studying in Dhanalakshmi Srinivasan Medical College and Hospital in Perambalur district , Tamil Nadu, India from January 2022 to April 2022. The data collection was done following the approval from the Institutional Human Ethics Committee approval (IECHS/ IRCHS no: 33, October 2021). The participants were explained about the risks and background of the study and those who gave informed written consent were included in the study. Inclusion criteria: All undergraduate students studying in the medical college during the data collection period were included in the study. Keywords: Addictive behaviour, Compulsive behaviour, Health occupations, Impulsivity ABSTRACT Introduction: Impulsive behaviour is the urge to act without thinking in any critical situation. Impulsive behaviour and risk- taking behaviour in adolescence have the chance of disrupting the balance of their entire lives. Studies and research related to impulsive behaviour are minimal and remain a blind area for any effective interventions to be applied. Aim: To study the prevalence of impulsive behaviour and to determine the factors associated with impulsive behaviour among Medical College Students in Perambalur, Tamil Nadu, India. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among 133 medical students of Dhanalakshmi Srinivasan Medical College and Hospital in Perambalur, Tamil Nadu, India, from January 2022 to April 2022. All undergraduate students, present in the college at the time of the study, were enrolled in the study. A pre-tested, validated, semi-structured questionnaire was used and the data was collected during the break hours in the morning and afternoon during the college working hours on the weekdays. The obtained data were analysed using statistical tests like paired t-test, unpaired independent t-test and Analysis of Variance (ANOVA). Results: Total of 133 Medical students (mean age: 21.21±1.58 years, 66 (49.6%) males and 67 (50.4%) females) were included in the study and analysed. The factors such as age (M±SD: 21.21±1.58 years with p-value 0.01), Usage of mobile phone (M±SD: 4.94±2.31 hours with p-value 0.01), fear for exam (M±SD: 2.20±0.58 with p-value 0.03), sleeplessness (M±SD: 2.89±0.59 with p-value 0.001) were associated with impulsive behaviour. Conclusion: The impulsive behaviour of a student is influenced by his fear of exams, his lack of sleep, and his usage of mobile phones. Assessment of a person with impulsive behaviour could help in the better prognosis and early intervention of young adult mental disorders.