Decision-making impairments in patients with pathological gambling.
Pathological gambling (PG) is most likely associated with functional brain changes as well as neuropsychological and personality alterations. Recent research with the Iowa Gambling Task suggests decision-making impairments in PG. These deficits are usually attributed to disturbances in feedback processing and associated functional alterations of the orbitofrontal cortex. However, previous studies with other clinical populations found relations between executive (dorsolateral prefrontal) functions and decision-making using a task with explicit rules for gains and losses, the Game of Dice Task. In the present study, we assessed 25 male PG patients and 25 male healthy controls with the Game of Dice Task. PG patients showed pronounced deficits in the Game of Dice Task, and the frequency of risky decisions was correlated with executive functions and feedback processing. Therefore, risky decisions of PG patients might be influenced by both dorsolateral prefrontal and orbitofrontal cortex dysfunctions.
Brand
Matthias
M
Department of Physiological Psychology, University of Bielefeld, P.O. Box 100131, 33501 Bielefeld, Germany. m.brand@uni-bielefeld.de
Kalbe
Elke
E
Labudda
Kirsten
K
Fujiwara
Esther
E
Kessler
Josef
J
Markowitsch
Hans J
HJ
D000328:Adult; D003657:Decision Making; D007174:Disruptive, Impulse Control, and Conduct Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000523:psychology; D005625:Frontal Lobe / Q000503:physiopathology*; D005715:Gambling / Q000523:psychology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D010552:Personality Assessment / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D010555:Personality Inventory; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D012309:Risk-Taking; D013647:Task Performance and Analysis