Differences in decision-making and impulsiveness in gambling disorder patients may be related to the type of gambling they prefer

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Author(s): Clark, Luke ; Michalczuk, R ; Cooks, Rachel ; Roberts, Amanda ; Bowden-Jones, Henrietta

Journal: Frontiers in Psychiatry

Year Published: 2019

Date Added: November 19, 2019

The researchers investigated if decision-making ability and impulsiveness of gamblers with gambling disorder (GD) is related to the type of gambling they prefer. Participants were 101 adults who were waiting to start or were in treatment for GD. Participants completed a series of neuropsychological assessments and questionnaires. Fixed-odds betting terminals (FOBT) gamblers showed poorer decision-making compared to non-FOBT gamblers. But, FOBT gamblers showed more cognitive flexibility, as they were more able to change their behaviour when the rules were changed.

Citation: Sharman, S., Clark, L., Roberts, A., Michalczuk, R., Cocks, R., & Bowden-Jones, H. (2019). Heterogeneity in disordered gambling: Decision-making and impulsivity in gamblers grouped by preferred form. Frontiers in Psychiatry, 10. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyt.2019.00588

Article DOI: https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyt.2019.00588

Keywords: decision making ; disordered gambling ; gambling ; heterogeneity ; impulsivity

Topics: Gambling and the Brain ; Impulsivity

Conceptual Framework Factors: Psychological Factors ; Psychological - Judgement and Decision Making

Study Design: Observational: Cross-sectional

Study Population: People with pathological gambling who were seeking treatment at the National Problem Gambling Clinic in London, United Kingdom.

Sampling Procedure: The researchers selected participants who were diagnosed with a gambling disorder using the Massachusetts Gambling Screen (MGS) and the Problem Gambling Severity Index (PGSI), and were seeking treatment for gambling disorder. Participants were either on the waiting list, receiving treatment, or had completed a course of cognitive behavioural therapy.

Study Funding:

No source of funding was declared for this study.