Pathological gambling. A psychobiological study

Arch Gen Psychiatry. 1988 Apr;45(4):369-73. doi: 10.1001/archpsyc.1988.01800280085011.

Abstract

We investigated psychobiological substrates of pathological gambling by measuring levels of norepinephrine, monoamine metabolites, and peptides in cerebrospinal fluid, plasma, and urine. Pathological gamblers had a significantly higher centrally produced fraction of cerebrospinal fluid levels of 3-methoxy-4-hydroxyphenylglycol as well as significantly greater urinary outputs of norepinephrine than controls. These results suggest that pathological gamblers may have a functional disturbance of the noradrenergic system. This system has been postulated to underlie sensation-seeking behaviors, aspects of which are thought to be abnormal among pathological gamblers.

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Brain / metabolism
  • Corticotropin-Releasing Hormone / metabolism
  • Depressive Disorder / complications
  • Depressive Disorder / metabolism
  • Disruptive, Impulse Control, and Conduct Disorders / complications
  • Disruptive, Impulse Control, and Conduct Disorders / metabolism
  • Disruptive, Impulse Control, and Conduct Disorders / physiopathology*
  • Dopamine / metabolism
  • Female
  • Gambling* / psychology
  • Glycols / cerebrospinal fluid*
  • Homovanillic Acid / metabolism
  • Humans
  • Hydroxyindoleacetic Acid / metabolism
  • Male
  • Methoxyhydroxyphenylglycol / cerebrospinal fluid*
  • Methoxyhydroxyphenylglycol / metabolism
  • Norepinephrine / metabolism
  • Norepinephrine / physiology*
  • Personality
  • Risk-Taking*
  • Serotonin / metabolism
  • Serotonin / physiology
  • Somatostatin / metabolism
  • Sympathetic Nervous System / physiopathology*

Substances

  • Glycols
  • Serotonin
  • Somatostatin
  • Methoxyhydroxyphenylglycol
  • Hydroxyindoleacetic Acid
  • Corticotropin-Releasing Hormone
  • Dopamine
  • Norepinephrine
  • Homovanillic Acid