Heart rate increase to alcohol administration and video lottery terminal play among probable pathological gamblers and nonpathological gamblers.
The authors examined heart-rate responses to alcohol consumption and video lottery terminal (VLT) play. Regular VLT players (30 probable pathological gamblers [PPGs]; 30 nonpathological gamblers [NPGs]) were randomized to an alcohol (mean postdrinking blood alcohol concentration = 0.056%) or placebo condition. Heart rate was recorded at pre- and postdrinking baselines and during VLT play. Consistent with an earlier study, alcohol-condition participants displayed elevated heart rates relative to placebo-condition participants only at postdrinking and VLT play. Moreover, alcohol-condition participants showed a greater heart rate increase to VLT play than did placebo-condition participants. However, PPGs were not more susceptible to alcohol- and/or VLT play-induced heart rate accelerations than were NPGs. Implications for gambling/alcohol-disorder comorbidity are discussed.
Department of Psychology, Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS, Canada. sherry.stewart@dal.ca
Sherry H
SH
Stewart
Jordan B
JB
Peterson
Pamela
P
Collins
Shondalee
S
Eisnor
Michael
M
Ellery
D000328:Adult; D000428:Alcohol Drinking / Q000523:psychology*; D016288:Computer Terminals; D003710:Demography; D005260:Female; D005715:Gambling / Q000523:psychology*; D006339:Heart Rate / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D018910:Video Games