title: The genetics of problem and pathological gambling: a systematic review.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The primary aim of the present review was to summarize the findings of genetic studies conducted on problem and pathological gambling.
  
  
  METHODS
  Literature searches were conducted using PubMed, Medline and the HuGE Navigator databases using the keywords 'gambling' and 'genetic*'.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The literature searches identified 21 empirical studies that had analyzed data from eight independent samples. Empirical research utilizing twin data accounted for eight of the studies, while gene association data were presented in 13 studies (including one genome wide-association study [GWAS] study). Twin studies emphasized the significant role of genetic and individual environmental factors in problem and pathological gambling. Gene association studies primarily reported the involvement of the dopaminergic and serotonergic systems.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Despite the relatively low number of genetic studies, the data clearly indicated the genetic vulnerability of problem and pathological gambling. Studies to date have mainly investigated and verified the role of factors reported to be important in other types of addiction, and it is suggested that pathological gambling should be included as a subtype of 'Reward Deficiency Syndrome' (RDS). It is concluded that future research should attempt to identify possible gambling specific susceptibility factors.
authors.forename: Agoston
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Gyollai
authors.forename: Mark D
authors.initials: MD
authors.lastname: Griffiths
authors.forename: Csaba
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Barta
authors.forename: Andrea
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Vereczkei
authors.forename: Róbert
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Urbán
authors.forename: Bernadette
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Kun
authors.forename: Gyöngyi
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Kökönyei
authors.forename: Anna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Székely
authors.forename: Mária
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sasvári-Székely
authors.forename: Kenneth
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Blum
authors.affiliation: Eotvos Lorand University, Institute of Psychology, Department of Clinical Psychology and Addiction, Izabella utca 46., H-1064, Budapest, HUNGARY. demetrovics@t-online.hu.
authors.forename: Zsolt
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Demetrovics
mesh_terms: D005715:Gambling / Q000235:genetics*; D006801:Humans