Altered dopamine function in pathological gambling

1997 ◽  
Vol 27 (2) ◽  
pp. 473-475 ◽  
Author(s):  
C. BERGH ◽  
T. EKLUND ◽  
P. SÖDERSTEN ◽  
C. NORDIN
Keyword(s):  
Selective Attention ◽  
Pathological Gambling ◽  
Dopaminergic System ◽  
Noradrenergic System ◽  
Pathological Gamblers ◽  
Dihydroxyphenylacetic Acid ◽  
Hydroxyindoleacetic Acid ◽  
Monoamines And Their Metabolites

Background. The possibility that monoaminergic neurotransmission is altered in pathological gambling was examined.Methods. Monoamines and their metabolites were measured in CSF obtained at level L4–5 from ten pathological gamblers and seven controls.Results. A decrease in dopamine and an increase in 3,4-dihydroxyphenylacetic acid and homovanilic acid was found. Noradrenaline and its metabolite 3-methoxy-4-hydroxyphenylglycol was also increased but 5-hydroxytryptamine and 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid were unchanged.Conclusion. It is suggested that the function of the dopaminergic system, possibly mediating positive and negative reward, and the noradrenergic system, possibly mediating selective attention, is changed in pathological gambling.

Serotonergic and Noradrenergic Function in Pathological Gambling

CNS Spectrums ◽  
1998 ◽  
Vol 3 (6) ◽  
pp. 38-47 ◽  
Author(s):  
Concetta M. DeCaria ◽  
Tomer Begaz ◽  
Eric Hollander
Keyword(s):  
Pathological Gambling ◽  
Behavioral Disorders ◽  
Serotonergic System ◽  
Noradrenergic System ◽  
Neurotransmitter Systems ◽  
Pathological Gamblers ◽  
Pharmacologic Intervention ◽  
Pharmacologic Agents ◽  
Noradrenergic Function

AbstractResearch on pathological gambling has begun to demonstrate the significant pathophysiologic role of several neurotransmitter systems in this disorder. Challenge studies with various pharmacologic agents have suggested the importance of potential dysregulation of the serotonergic system in pathological gambling, as this system is linked to dysfunction in behavioral initiation and inhibition. In addition, the noradrenergic system has been associated with mediation of arousal, increases of which are manifested by pathological gamblers. The interactions between these and other neurotransmitter systems, as well as the similarities between pathological gambling and other behavioral disorders, may provide important clues for pharmacologic intervention.

scholarly journals Prevalence of Pathological Gambling in Quebec in 2002

2005 ◽  
Vol 50 (8) ◽  
pp. 451-456 ◽  
Author(s):  
Robert Ladouceur ◽  
Christian Jacques ◽  
Serge Chevalier ◽  
Serge Sévigny ◽  
Denis Hamel
Keyword(s):  
Pathological Gambling ◽  
Telephone Interview ◽  
Phase 1 ◽  
Adult Population ◽  
Total Sample ◽  
Second Phase ◽  
Screening Instruments ◽  
South Oaks Gambling Screen ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Pathological Gamblers

Objective: To assess gambling behaviours and the problems associated with pathological gambling among the adult population of Quebec in 2002. Method: In Phase 1 of this 2-phase study, a total sample of 8842 adults was assessed. We used the South Oaks Gambling Screen (SOGS), adapted for telephone interview, to assess one-half of the sample; the other one-half was evaluated with the Canadian Problem Gambling Index (CPGI). In the study's second phase, we compared the classifications obtained from these screening instruments with classifications obtained by a psychologist using a semistructured clinical telephone interview. Results: The results indicate that the prevalence of pathological gambling in 2002 (at which time 0.8% of the adult population were classified as probable pathological gamblers) did not differ from the proportion obtained in 1996 (1.0%), despite the significant decrease in gambling participation in 2002 (81% vs 90% in 1996). The most popular gambling activities were buying lottery tickets (68%), participating in fundraising draws (40%), gambling in casinos (18%), playing cards with family or with friends (10%), playing bingo (9%), and playing video lotteries (8%). The findings obtained from the SOGS and the CPGI revealed that the 2 instruments perform similarly when identifying pathological gambling prevalence. However, the results of the semistructured clinical telephone interviews differed from the results obtained with the screening instruments: 82% of the gamblers initially identified as probable pathological gamblers by the SOGS or the CPGI were not confirmed by a clinical interview. Conclusion: The discrepancy between the results of the screening questionnaires and the clinical evaluation is significant, and this difference needs to be addressed before further cross-sectional or longitudinal studies are conducted.

Dysregulation of emotions among pathological gamblers: The role of savoring

2017 ◽  
Vol 41 (S1) ◽  
pp. S394-S394
Author(s):  
G. Rogier ◽  
P. Velotti
Keyword(s):  
Emotion Regulation ◽  
Pathological Gambling ◽  
Emotion Dysregulation ◽  
Positive Emotions ◽  
Clinical Sample ◽  
Emotional States ◽  
Pathological Gamblers ◽  
Difficulties In Emotion Regulation ◽  
Regulation Strategies

IntroductionTheories have conceptualized pathological gambling as an attempt to cope with emotional states. However, there is a lack of research about emotion dysregulation in this population. In a similar way, few is known about the nature of emotion regulation strategies used by pathological gamblers. Furthermore, it is not clear if pathological gamblers have difficulties to regulate negative emotions (as sadness) or positive ones (as excitement).ObjectivesWe sought to explore the associations among pathological gambling, emotion dysregulation and different types of emotion regulation strategies, comparing a clinical sample with community participants.AimsTo highlight similarities and differences in emotion dysregulation between pathological gamblers and healthy participants.MethodsA sample of pathological gamblers and a sample of healthy men, were administered the South Oaks Gambling Screen (SOGS), Difficulties in Emotion Regulation Scale (DERS), Difficulties in Emotion regulation Scale-Positive (DERS-P), Emotion Regulation Questionnaire (ERQ) and the Ways of Savoring Checklist (WOSC).ResultsAs expected, both levels of emotion dysregulation and suppression were significantly higher in the clinical sample while levels of savoring and reappraisal were significantly higher in the community sample.ConclusionsSuch results confirm the theorization of pathological gambling as a dysfunctional response to emotional states and underline the role of positive emotions. Specifically, pathological gamblers may be prone to suppress negative emotions instead to engage in functional strategies as reappraisal. Gamblers also fail to regulate positive emotions showing a poor capacity of savoring positive moments.Disclosure of interestThe authors have not supplied their declaration of competing interest.

Review of Research on Pathological Gambling

1993 ◽  
Vol 72 (3) ◽  
pp. 791-810 ◽  
Author(s):  
John B. Murray
Keyword(s):  
Pathological Gambling ◽  
Personality Test ◽  
Compulsive Gambling ◽  
Pathological Gamblers ◽  
Review Articles ◽  
Gamblers Anonymous ◽  
Test Profiles

The literature including a number of review articles was examined for answers to the questions, have distinctive personality test profiles of pathological gamblers been identified, do pathological gamblers have control over their behavior, have studies of alcoholism and addiction increased understanding of compulsive gambling, and has psychotherapy or Gamblers Anonymous been successful for them? Much more information is needed to build on what research on these questions has yielded.

Attentional bias in pathological gambling. A review

2011 ◽  
Vol 26 (S2) ◽  
pp. 120-120
Author(s):  
E.J.V. Vizcaino ◽  
M.M. Mayor ◽  
I.M. Gras ◽  
G.P. Alfaro ◽  
G.R. Valladolid
Keyword(s):  
Substance Use ◽  
Pathological Gambling ◽  
Attentional Bias ◽  
Impulse Control ◽  
Current Evidence ◽  
Cognitive Dimension ◽  
Pathological Gamblers ◽  
Modified Stroop ◽  
Emotional Dimension ◽  
Dsm Iv

RationalePathological gambling (PG) is a relatively prevalent psychiatric disorder, which is included in the category of Impulse Control Disorders of the DSM-IV TR. It's prevalence is 1%. Dopamine is the main neurotransmitter involved in it. Attentional bias (AB) is a phenomenon whereby attentional channelling is directed toward personally valued stimuli, despite an individual's efforts to ignore them. AB have been previously described in several Substance Use Disorders (SUD) such as alcoholism and cocaine use disorders.ObjectivesThe objective of this study was to investigate the current evidence of the presence of AB associated to PG.MethodsWe performed a systematic search in PubMed (1980-Present) to identify publications that examined the existence of AB in PG.ResultsTo date, two studies have found the existence of an AB in pathological gamblers. Both studies have been performed using a modified Stroop procedure, and report that gamblers show an automatic interference when naming the color of gambling-related words.ConclusionsPG could be conceptualized as an addictive behavior and we can hypothesize a link between addiction and automaticity. There is a relationship between AB (cognitive dimension) and subjective craving (emotional dimension), so that high levels of craving can be both, a cause of, and a consequence of, an elevation of AB of gambling-related cues. Even so, there is little research in this field to date. Further studies are warranted using new paradigms for the assessment of AB in PG.

Association of Pathological Gambling with Depression in Scotland

2006 ◽  
Vol 99 (2) ◽  
pp. 407-417 ◽  
Author(s):  
Crawford Moodie ◽  
Frances Finnigan
Keyword(s):  
Pathological Gambling ◽  
Depressive Symptomatology ◽  
Depression Scale ◽  
Epidemiologic Studies ◽  
Small Community ◽  
South Oaks Gambling Screen ◽  
Pathological Gamblers ◽  
Problem Gamblers ◽  
The Relationship ◽  
Cluster Design

As most research concerning gambling and depression has been conducted on clinical populations, the present study examined the relationship between gambling and depression across a large sample in Scotland in higher education and the community. A questionnaire-based cluster design involved the distribution of the South Oaks Gambling Screen and the Centre for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale mainly to students and staff of higher educational establishments, with small community and gambling samples also included. Thirty-seven colleges and universities across Scotland participated in the research, with a sample of 2,259 people aged sixteen years of age or over ( M = 28.9 yr., SD = 13.4) being obtained. It was found that past-year probable pathological gamblers had significantly higher depression than problem gamblers, nonproblem gamblers, and nongamblers. However, when probable pathological gamblers who had sought treatment were omitted from the analysis, the nontreatment-seeking probable pathological gambling group no longer had significantly higher depression than the problem gambling group. Female problem and probable pathological gamblers had particularly high depressive symptomatology, suggesting comorbid depression may be a prominent feature of problematic female gambling.

scholarly journals Pathological gambling in women: a review

2002 ◽  
Vol 57 (5) ◽  
pp. 235-242 ◽  
Author(s):  
Silvia Saboia Martins ◽  
Daniela S. S. Lobo ◽  
Hermano Tavares ◽  
Valentim Gentil
Keyword(s):  
Psychiatric Disorder ◽  
Pathological Gambling ◽  
Current Literature ◽  
Reference Lists ◽  
Prevention Strategies ◽  
Pathological Gamblers ◽  
The Past ◽  
Treatment And Prevention ◽  
Epidemiological Characteristics ◽  
Male Subjects

Pathological gambling was only recently recognized as a psychiatric disorder (DSM-III, APA, 1980). Most studies of pathological gambling include only male subjects. Despite the paucity of information, it is likely that at least one-third of pathological gamblers are women. The objective of this article is to review clinical and epidemiological characteristics of female gamblers as compared to their male counterparts. MEDLINE and PsycINFO were searched for investigational studies and reviews of the past 10 years on clinical (sociodemographic, course and progression, psychiatric comorbidities, genetics, and personality) and epidemiological aspects of female gamblers. Other relevant articles were also selected from reference lists. It is concluded that the current literature indicates some common characteristics in female and male gamblers, but it also indicates the possibility that each gender may carry etiopathogenic differences that when better understood should lead to improved treatment and prevention strategies.

Pathological Gamblers are Neither Impulsive Nor Sensation—Seekers

1988 ◽  
Vol 22 (3) ◽  
pp. 307-311 ◽  
Author(s):  
Clive C. Allcock ◽  
David M. Grace
Keyword(s):  
Pathological Gambling ◽  
Patient Group ◽  
Impulse Control ◽  
Sensation Seeking ◽  
The Other ◽  
Drug Addicts ◽  
Heroin Addicts ◽  
Pathological Gamblers ◽  
Sensation Seeking Scale

Ten pathological gamblers, ten alcoholics, ten heroin addicts and twenty five non-patients were compared using Zuckerman's Sensation Seeking Scale (SSS) and Barratt's Impulsivity Scale (BIS). The pathological gamblers did not differ from the non-patient group on either measure. Drug addicts scored significantly higher and alcoholics significantly lower than the pathological gamblers and the non-patient group on the SSS, while drug addicts scored significantly higher than the other groups on the BIS. The difficulties in defining impulsivity are discussed. It is suggested that the classification of pathological gambling as a disorder of impulse control should be reconsidered.

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