title: Impulsivity, alexithymia and dissociation among pathological gamblers in different therapeutic settings: A multisample comparison study.
abstract: Since many psychopathological traits seem to be related to Gambling Disorder (GD), impulsivity, alexithymia and dissociation could play a central role in gambling behaviors, particularly in pathological gambling. We test this hypothesis in four distinct samples of gamblers, three undergoing different types of treatments and a control group. The study sample consists of 204 subjects (males 87.3%, mean age=47.75 years, SD=12.08) divided into four groups: (1) 59 subjects belonging to an Outpatients Treatment Program in the National Health System (NHS); (2) 60 subjects of an Outpatients Self-Help Group Program; (3) 35 subjects belonging to a Residential Treatment Program (Inpatients Program); and (4) 50 subjects without gambling problems (Control Group). Results show a positive relationship between gambling behaviors, impulsivity and alexithymia, and a negligible link between gambling behaviors and dissociation. Findings also display the presence of higher levels of all these features in pathological gamblers with higher scores on the SOGS, and particularly, in participants attending a Residential Treatment Program (Inpatients Program). This study confirms the hypothesis of the presence of higher levels of impulsivity, alexithymia and dissociation in pathological gamblers with a greater severity and seems to indicate a significant importance of impulsivity and alexithymia in predicting gambling behaviors.
authors.affiliation: Department of Human Sciences, LUMSA University of Rome, Rome, Italy; Department of Education and Psychology, University of Florence, Florence, Italy; New Social Pathologies Research Unit, University of Florence, Florence, Italy; Italian Society of Psychological Assessment (SIPDC), Italy. Electronic address: gori.alessio@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Alessio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Gori
authors.affiliation: Italian Society of Psychological Assessment (SIPDC), Italy; University of Enna "Kore", Enna, Italy.
authors.forename: Giuseppe
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Craparo
authors.affiliation: Department of Human Sciences, LUMSA University of Rome, Rome, Italy; Italian Society of Psychological Assessment (SIPDC), Italy.
authors.forename: Vincenzo
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Caretti
authors.affiliation: Italian Society of Psychological Assessment (SIPDC), Italy; Department of Health Sciences, University of Florence, Florence, Italy.
authors.forename: Marco
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Giannini
authors.affiliation: Italian Society of Psychological Assessment (SIPDC), Italy.
authors.forename: Giuseppe
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Iraci-Sareri
authors.affiliation: Institute of Psychiatry and Clinical Psychology, Catholic University of the Sacred Heart, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Angelo
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bruschi
authors.affiliation: Institute of Psychiatry and Clinical Psychology, Catholic University of the Sacred Heart, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Luigi
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Janiri
authors.affiliation: New Social Pathologies Research Unit, University of Florence, Florence, Italy; Department of Health Sciences, University of Florence, Florence, Italy.
authors.forename: Lucia
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Ponti
authors.affiliation: New Social Pathologies Research Unit, University of Florence, Florence, Italy; Department of Health Sciences, University of Florence, Florence, Italy.
authors.forename: Franca
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Tani
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000342:Affective Symptoms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology* / Q000628:therapy; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004213:Dissociative Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology* / Q000628:therapy; D005260:Female; D005715:Gambling / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology* / Q000628:therapy; D006801:Humans; D007175:Impulsive Behavior; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D055815:Young Adult