The UPPS-P Impulsive Behavior Scale (Cyders et al. 2007) is a 59 item self report scale to assess impulsive personality. The scale can be used with adults or adolescents (ages 13+) to identify the separate personality facets that have been previously lumped together under the term impulsivity.
The UPPS-P has five subscales:
Example UPPS-P Item
This scale has been used with patients who display impulsivity in a variety of settings, including in the context of drug and alcohol abuse (Whiteside & Lynam, 2003), gambling (Miller, Flory, Lynam, & Leukefeld, 2003), risk taking behaviors, problems with sustained motivation and attention and ADHD (Miller, Derefinko, Lynam, Milich, & Fillmore, 2010).
This scale is important in understanding the reasons why individuals engage in impulsive behavior. For example, if two individuals engage in the same behavior for different reasons (e.g., gambling to distract from negative emotions versus gambling to sustain positive emotions), they are likely to respond differently to treatment.
Scores are presented for each of five subscales, plus a total impulsivity score. In addition to the raw scores, in order to put each subscale into the same metric, the mean is calculated for the items on each subscale, from 1 to 4, where 1 indicates that the respondent did not indorse impulsive answers, and 4 indicating a high level of self-reported impulsivity.
In addition, results for each subscale are converted into a percentile rank based on the Spanish version of the scale from a sample of 150 undergraduate students (Verdejo-García, Lozano, Moya, Alcázar, & Pérez-García, 2009). Higher percentiles represent a higher level of impulsivity compared to this sample.
Given that the university sample is likely to have a lower level of pathologically impulsive individuals compared to the general population, interpretation should be done in consideration that percentile ceiling effects are likely. Subscale descriptions are as follows:
The UPPS-P is a revised version of the original UPPS created by Whiteside and Lynam (2001). Using factor analysis of a number of available impulsivity scales, the original UPPS identified four different pathways leading to impulsive behavior (Whiteside & Lynam, 2001). The fifth subscale (positive urgency) was then added using additional items (Cyders et al. 2007), as this subscale was of theoretical importance to the construct of impulsivity. A study comparing responses on the UPPS-P with interview data (Smith et al., 2007) found that there was the same factor structure of impulsivity traits from interview data as from questionnaire data. Additionally, there was convergent validity in the assessment of each construct across methods and discriminant validity between the different constructs. Further validating the constructs within the measure, the parent version can discriminate between several attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) subtypes, including predominantly inattentive type (ADHD/I), combined type (ADHD/C), and combined type with behavioral problems (ADHD/ODD) (Miller, et al., 2010).
The UPPS-P measures five distinct pathways to impulsive behaviour, recognising that impulsivity isn’t a single trait but a multifaceted construct. Negative Urgency is the tendency to act rashly when experiencing negative emotions like anger or distress. Positive Urgency involves impulsive actions during intense positive emotional states, such as celebration or excitement. Lack of Premeditation reflects difficulty considering consequences before acting. Lack of Perseverance involves trouble staying focused on difficult or boring tasks. Sensation Seeking encompasses the desire for novel and thrilling experiences. Understanding which dimensions are elevated helps clinicians tailor interventions – for instance, someone with high urgency scores might benefit from emotion regulation strategies, while high sensation seeking might require channelling this trait into healthy outlets rather than trying to eliminate it.
Different psychological conditions show distinct UPPS-P profiles, making it valuable for differential diagnosis and treatment planning. ADHD typically shows elevations primarily in Lack of Perseverance and Lack of Premeditation, reflecting executive function difficulties. Borderline Personality Disorder often presents with particularly high Negative Urgency scores, consistent with emotional dysregulation. Substance use disorders frequently show elevations across multiple dimensions, especially Sensation Seeking and both urgency scales. Bipolar disorder during manic episodes may show spikes in Positive Urgency. By examining the pattern of scores rather than just total impulsivity, clinicians can better understand the mechanisms driving problematic behaviours and select appropriate interventions.
While often used interchangeably, impulsivity as measured by the UPPS-P is more nuanced than simple “poor self-control.” The UPPS-P recognises that impulsive behaviour can arise from different sources – it might be emotion-driven (urgency), cognitively-based (lack of premeditation), motivational (lack of perseverance), or temperamental (sensation seeking). Someone might have excellent self-control in calm situations but struggle with Negative Urgency when upset. Conversely, someone with high Sensation Seeking isn’t necessarily lacking control – they may deliberately seek exciting experiences. This distinction is clinically important because interventions differ: urgency-related impulsivity might respond to emotion regulation training, while lack of premeditation might benefit from cognitive strategies for decision-making.
UPPS-P profiles directly inform treatment approaches by identifying specific impulsivity mechanisms to target. High Negative Urgency suggests prioritising distress tolerance and emotion regulation skills, potentially through dialectical behaviour therapy techniques. Elevated Positive Urgency might warrant psychoeducation about the risks of impulsive behaviour during positive moods and developing “pause” strategies for exciting situations. Lack of Premeditation indicates a need for structured decision-making tools and consequence-consideration exercises. Lack of Perseverance might be addressed through behavioural activation, breaking tasks into smaller steps, and external accountability structures. Regular re-administration helps track whether targeted interventions are reducing specific types of impulsivity, allowing clinicians to adjust treatment if certain dimensions remain elevated.
Measuring impulsivity in adolescents and young adults can be beneficial because this developmental period involves natural changes in impulse control as the prefrontal cortex continues maturing into the early-twenties. The UPPS-P helps distinguish between developmentally typical impulsivity and clinically concerning patterns. Some elevation in Sensation Seeking during adolescence is normal and even adaptive for independence development. However, high urgency scores, particularly Negative Urgency, may predict risk for self-harm, substance use, or eating disorders. When interpreting scores for young people, consider developmental context – a 16-year-old’s “high” score might be less concerning than the same score in a 25-year-old. The measure also helps identify young people who might benefit from preventive interventions before impulsive patterns become entrenched.
Whiteside, S. P., & Lynam, D. R. (2001). The Five Factor Model and impulsivity: Using a structural model of personality to understand impulsivity. Personality and Individual Differences,30, 669–689. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0191-8869(00)00064-7
Cyders, M. A., Smith, G. T., Spillane, N. S., Fischer, S., Annus, A. M., & Peterson, C. (2007). Integration of impulsivity and positive mood to predict risky behavior: Development and validation of a measure of positive urgency. Psychological Assessment, 19, 107–118. https://psycnet.apa.org/doi/10.1037/1040-3590.19.1.107
Miller, D. J., Derefinko, K. J., Lynam, D. R., Milich, R., & Fillmore, M. T. (2010). Impulsivity and attention deficit-hyperactivity disorder: Subtype classification using the UPPS Impulsive Behavior Scale. Journal of Psychopathology and Behavioral Assessment, 32(3), 323-332. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10862-009-9155-z
Smith, G. T., Fischer, S., Cyders, M. A., Annus, A. M., Spillane, N. S., & McCarthy, D. M. (2007). On the validity and utility of discriminating among impulsivity-like traits. Assessment, 14(2), 155-170. https://doi.org/10.1177/1073191106295527
Verdejo-García, A., Lozano, Ó., Moya, M., Alcázar, M. Á., & Pérez-García, M. (2009). Psychometric Properties of a Spanish Version of the UPPS–P Impulsive Behavior Scale: Reliability, Validity and Association With Trait and Cognitive Impulsivity. Journal of Personality Assessment, 92(1), 70-77. https://doi.org/10.1080/00223890903382369
