[Pathological gambling. An empirical study of the desire for addictive substances].
Drug craving, the irresistible urge for drug intake, is being discussed as a central construct for the explanation of addictive behaviour and for relapses so far only in substance-related addiction. Based on learning models for the maintenance of addiction, in this study, cue-induced craving and psychological variables that influence craving were investigated in subjects with excessive rewarding behaviour such as pathological gambling. Based on the cue-reactivity paradigm, pathological gamblers and healthy controls were exposed to gambling and other cues. Emotional processing of the gambling cues, cue-induced craving, and the influence on craving of depression, anxiety, and stress-coping strategies were investigated. The results demonstrate disorder-specific processing of cues in pathological gamblers, even after abstinence for more than a year. In addition, craving is influenced by psychological disabilities. Data are discussed with respect to comparable data in studies about substance-related addicts.
Grüsser
S M
SM
Institut für Medizinische Psychologie, Interdisziplinäre Suchtforschungsgruppe, Zentrum für Human- und Gesundheitswissenschaften, Charité-Universitätsmedizin, Berlin. sabine.gruesser@charite.de
Plöntzke
B
B
Albrecht
U
U
D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000328:Adult; D016739:Behavior, Addictive / Q000150:complications / Q000523:psychology*; D003463:Cues; D004644:Emotions; D019317:Evidence-Based Medicine / Q000379:methods; D005260:Female; D005715:Gambling / Q000523:psychology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008960:Models, Psychological; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D018570:Risk Assessment / Q000379:methods*; D012307:Risk Factors