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Measuring Delay Discounting in Humans Using an Adjusting Amount Task
Published on: January 9, 2016
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Problem Gambling and its Relation to Delayed Reward Discounting: A Secondary Analysis of a Randomized Controlled
Dominic Haag1, Andreas Meyer1, Nikolaos Boumparis1
1Swiss Research Institute for Public Health and Addiction, University of Zurich, Konradstrasse 32, 8005, Zurich, Switzerland.
Journal of Gambling Studies
|November 12, 2025
Summary
Delayed reward discounting (DRD) is linked to problem gambling severity. While DRD decreased over time with reduced gambling symptoms, it did not predict treatment adherence in this study.
Area of Science:
- Behavioral Economics
- Psychology
- Addiction Research
Background:
- Delayed reward discounting (DRD) is the devaluation of future rewards, often linked to addictive behaviors.
- Problem gambling is a significant public health concern, and understanding its underlying mechanisms is crucial.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the association between DRD and problem gambling severity.
- To examine temporal changes in DRD during a gambling intervention.
- To assess the predictive value of DRD for treatment adherence.
Main Methods:
- Secondary analysis of data from 345 participants in the Win Back Control randomized controlled trial.
- Assessed DRD using the Monetary Choice Questionnaire (MCQ).
- Measured problem gambling severity with the Problem Gambling Severity Index (PGSI) and gambling symptom severity with the Gambling Symptom Assessment Scale (G-SAS).
Main Results:
- DRD showed a significant positive association with both gambling symptom severity (G-SAS) and problem gambling severity (PGSI).
- DRD significantly decreased weekly across three measurement points.
- DRD was not found to be a significant predictor of adherence to the intervention.
Conclusions:
- DRD is strongly associated with the severity of problem gambling and associated symptoms.
- While DRD diminishes over time with reduced gambling, it does not predict adherence.
- Further research is needed to explore DRD as a potential mediator in problem gambling interventions, acknowledging correlational limitations and potential attrition bias.
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