The authors examined whether childhood traumas may be a determinant of impulsivity, a personality dimension often associated with suicidal behaviour. 268 abstinent drug dependent patients completed both the Childhood Trauma Questionnaire (CTQ) & the Barratt Impulsivity Scale (BIS). The results showed that there were significant relationships, albeit small, between CTQ scores & BIS impulsivity scores, suggesting that childhood trauma may be one determinant of impulsivity as an adult. (17 refs)