Trait Impulsivity Predicts Treatment Response in Gambling Disorder

Impulsivity is thought to be a core feature of gambling disorder, yet little is known as to whether trait impulsivity predicts treatment response.

Data were pooled from 2 previous randomized controlled pharmacological trials using naltrexone and N-acetyl cysteine.

Trait impulsivity statistically explained variation in medication treatment response ( P = 0.0260, R2 = 0.26). Higher baseline motor impulsiveness was associated with greater treatment response ( P = 0.009).

Measures of impulsivity may thus be important to include in future large-scale datasets, in trial settings but also routine clinical gambling clinic practice, toward building predictive algorithms that may ultimately help to inform optimal treatment choices and improve outcomes.