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Pathological gambling severity is associated with impulsivity in a delay discounting procedure
1Department of Psychiatry, University of Connecticut Health Center, 263 Farmington Avenue, 06030-3944, Farmington, CT, USA
Behavioural Processes
|October 29, 2003
Summary
Pathological gambling severity, measured by the South Oaks Gambling Screen (SOGS), is a stronger predictor of impulsive behavior than general impulsivity. This finding highlights the importance of assessing gambling severity in understanding decision-making in pathological gamblers.
Area of Science:
- Behavioral Psychology
- Neuroeconomics
- Addiction Research
Background:
- Impulsivity is a recognized characteristic of pathological gambling.
- Understanding the relationship between impulsivity and gambling severity is crucial for effective treatment.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the correlation between pathological gambling severity and impulsive behavior.
- To determine if gambling severity is a better predictor of impulsivity than general impulsivity measures.
Main Methods:
- Sixty-two pathological gamblers completed a delay discounting task, the South Oaks Gambling Screen (SOGS), and the Eysenck impulsivity scale.
- Impulsive behavior was quantified by the rate of discounting delayed monetary rewards (k value).
- Linear regression analysis was used to identify predictors of k values.
Main Results:
- Gambling severity (SOGS scores) significantly predicted impulsive behavior (k values).
- General impulsivity (Eysenck scale scores) also predicted impulsive behavior.
- The South Oaks Gambling Screen (SOGS) demonstrated 1.4 times the predictive power of the Eysenck impulsivity scale.
Conclusions:
- Pathological gambling severity is a significant predictor of impulsive decision-making in a delay discounting task.
- Gambling severity appears to be a more potent indicator of impulsive behavior in this population than general impulsivity measures.