Abstract
Impulsivity is a multidimensional construct. Although gambling disorder (GD) has been associated with high impulsivity, impulsivity across multiple domains has not been thoroughly investigated in this population. We first aimed to examine whether associations between three facets of impulsivity (response impulsivity, choice impulsivity and impulsive tendency) varied between GD patients and healthy controls (HC). We next aimed to evaluate relationships between these three types of impulsivity, as proposed by theoretical models of impulsivity, and their associations with GD severity. The sample included 97 treatment-seeking adult men with GD, diagnosed according to DSM-5 criteria, and 32 male HCs recruited from the general population. Greater impulsivity in all three domains was found in men with GD in comparison to men without GD. Associations between impulsivity facets were found in both groups, with response impulsivity being the only domain associated with GD severity. Our findings confirm that multiple domains of impulsivity are relevant in GD. Future studies should examine the extent to which treatments aimed at targeting specific aspects of impulsivity improve outcomes.
Highlights
Impulsivity has been proposed as a multifactorial construct[1], there is still a lack of consensus regarding its definition and the independence of impulsivity domains[2]
Another study found gambling disorder (GD) to be associated with response impulsivity and choice impulsivity, only the latter was linked with GD severity[13]
The present study analyzed whether associations between response impulsivity, choice impulsivity and impulsive tendency varied between GD patients and healthy control (HC)
Summary
Impulsivity has been proposed as a multifactorial construct[1], there is still a lack of consensus regarding its definition and the independence of impulsivity domains[2]. While multiple theoretical models have been proposed different types of impulsivity, the proposal by MacKillop et al.[8] is widely used and validated in different populations This model posits that impulsivity can be partitioned into three main domains: response impulsivity, choice impulsivity and impulsive tendencies. Termed impulsive action or motor impulsivity, involves impairments in delaying, withholding or interrupting inappropriate responses[4,9] High levels of this type of impulsivity have been associated with gambling disorder (GD), with GD participants demonstrating differences in response impulsivity in comparison with healthy control (HC) participants[10], including within treatment-seeking samples[11]. Some studies uphold that sensation-seeking, lack of premeditation and urgency could be linked with choice impulsivity and response impulsivity[2]. Another study found GD to be associated with response impulsivity and choice impulsivity, only the latter was linked with GD severity[13]
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