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Published on: February 20, 2019
Pathological gamblers discount probabilistic rewards less steeply than matched controls.
Gregory J Madden1, Nancy M Petry, Patrick S Johnson
1Department of Applied Behavioral Science, University of Kansas, Lawrence, KS 66045, USA. gmadden@ku.edu
Experimental and Clinical Psychopharmacology
|October 7, 2009
Summary
Pathological gamblers show shallower probability discounting than controls, meaning they value uncertain rewards more. This suggests a link between altered risk perception and gambling severity.
Area of Science:
- Behavioral Psychology
- Neuroscience
- Addiction Studies
Background:
- Pathological gambling is a significant mental health concern.
- Understanding decision-making processes in pathological gamblers is crucial for developing effective treatments.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate probability and delay discounting in treatment-seeking pathological gamblers.
- To explore the relationship between discounting behavior and gambling severity.
Main Methods:
- Compared 19 pathological gamblers with 19 demographically matched controls.
- Administered questionnaires including the Eysenck Personality Questionnaire and South Oaks Gambling Screen (SOGS).
- Assessed probability and delay discounting using specialized questionnaires.
Main Results:
- Pathological gamblers exhibited significantly shallower probability discounting than controls.
- Shallower probability discounting correlated positively with higher SOGS scores.
- No significant group differences in delay discounting were observed.
Conclusions:
- Pathological gamblers discount probabilistic rewards less steeply, indicating altered risk assessment.
- The findings support a connection between probability discounting and the severity of problem gambling.
- Further research is warranted to explore this relationship in pathological gambling behavior.
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