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Partial Dopamine Agonists and Gambling Disorder: A Comprehensive Review and Clinical Implications
Filippo Besana1, Gursharan Johal2, Stefano Pasquariello1
1Department of Mental Health and Addictions, Azienda Socio-Sanitaria Territoriale Santi Paolo e Carlo, Milan, Italy.
Journal of Clinical Psychopharmacology
|August 13, 2026
Summary
Aripiprazole, a partial dopamine agonist, is linked to gambling disorder in patients with mental health conditions. Discontinuing the drug often resolves gambling issues, highlighting the need for clinical awareness and monitoring.
Area of Science:
- Psychiatry
- Neuroscience
- Pharmacology
Background:
- Third-generation antipsychotics like aripiprazole, cariprazine, and brexpiprazole treat mental health conditions.
- Aripiprazole has been associated with gambling-related harms and impulse control issues.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review case reports on gambling disorder induced by partial dopamine agonist therapy.
- To investigate the link between aripiprazole and gambling behavior.
Main Methods:
- Conducted a multistep literature search across various databases.
- Screened articles by title and abstract for inclusion.
- Included case reports or series in English detailing gambling behavior induced by partial dopamine agonists.
Main Results:
- Seventeen articles involving 36 patients were analyzed.
- All cases were linked to aripiprazole; no cases involved brexpiprazole or cariprazine.
- Aripiprazole discontinuation led to good outcomes in 66.6% of gambling disorder cases.
Conclusions:
- A clear relationship exists between aripiprazole and gambling behavior.
- Clinicians must monitor for gambling behavior in patients prescribed partial dopamine agonists.
- Increased awareness and monitoring are crucial due to potential patient reluctance to disclose gambling issues.
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