Impulsivity in Pathological Gambling

Launched by UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, LOS ANGELES · Dec 20, 2007

Keywords

ClinConnect Summary

Personality traits of impulsivity will be measured with the Barrett Impulsiveness Scale and the NEO Personality Inventory-Revised. Behavioral components of impulsivity will be tested through delay and probability discounting tasks. Finally, measures of frontotemporal functioning are also included in a neuropsychology and neurocognitive battery. Recent studies have shown that these areas of the brain function differently in pathological gamblers; thus, the following neuropsychology/neurocognitive tests have been included: Attention/Information Processing Speed (via Simple Reaction Time Task ...

Gender

ALL

Eligibility criteria

• Inclusion Criteria:
• Inclusion Criteria for Pathological Gamblers:
• • 18 years or older
• • Be able to speak, read and write in English
• • Current diagnosis of pathological gambling (using DSM-IV criteria)
• • South Oaks Gambling Screen (SOGS) score of 5 or above during screening
• • Recent gambling activity -- at least once within one week prior to enrollment.
• • Voluntarily given informed consent and signed the informed consent document.
• • Not currently seeking treatment for gambling
• Inclusion Criteria For Control Participants:
• • 18 years or older
• • Be able to speak, read and write in English
• • South Oaks Gambling Screen (SOGS) score of 5 or less during screening
• • Voluntarily given informed consent and signed the informed consent document
• • Does not meet diagnosis of pathological gambling by DSM-IV criteria
• • Not currently seeking treatment for gambling
• Exclusion Criteria:
• Exclusion Criteria for all participants:
• • Current treatment for pathological gambling, excluding involvement with Gamblers Anonymous
• • Ongoing medication for any psychiatric disorders, including anti-psychotics, antidepressants, mood stabilizers, anxiolytics or sedative/hypnotics.
• • Dependence by DSM-IV criteria on any psychoactive substance, excluding caffeine or nicotine
• • Presence of clinically unstable medical disorders that could harm the subject if not treated immediately.
• • Presence of any neurological or psychiatric disorders (as assessed by the SCID or MINI and BDI-II) that would require immediate treatment.
• • Test positive urine toxicology for illicit drugs prior to enrollment
• • Hamilton Depression Scale score of \>17