Urge to gamble in problem gamblers exposed to a casino environment.
Cue-reactivity has received increased attention in addiction research, though not for gambling in particular. We examined cue reactivity in 18 problem gamblers by accompanying them to a gaming casino and measuring their subjective urge to gamble over a 1-h period. Half of the sample was additionally exposed to a gambling-specific negative mood induction (NMI) manipulation via guided imagery. Overall, about two-thirds of the sample reported moderate to high-gambling urges during the casino exposure. Additionally, the NMI reduced cue-reactivity. Finally, gambling urges in both groups decreased over the course of the exposure sessions. These findings suggest that a majority of problem gamblers experience the urge to gamble when exposed to gambling cues and that the intensity of these urges decrease with time, especially in the presence of a gambling-relevant NMI. Cue exposure should be studied further as a potential tool in the treatment of problem gambling.
Kushner
Matt G
MG
Department of Psychiatry, Fairview-Riverside Hospital, University of Minnesota, F-282-2A West, 2450 Riverside Ave., Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA. kushn001@umn.edu
Abrams
Kenneth
K
Donahue
Christopher
C
Thuras
Paul
P
Frost
Randy
R
Kim
Suck Won
SW
D000328:Adult; D016739:Behavior, Addictive / Q000523:psychology*; D003463:Cues; D005260:Female; D005715:Gambling / Q000523:psychology*; D006801:Humans; D007389:Internal-External Control; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012309:Risk-Taking; D012931:Social Environment; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires