Event frequency,excitement and desire to gamble,among pathological gamblers |
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Authors: | Jakob Linnet Kristine Rømer Thomsen Arne Møller Mette Buhl Callesen |
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Affiliation: | 1. Center of Functionally Integrative Neuroscience, Aarhus University;2. Pathophysiology and Experimental Tomography Centre, Aarhus University Hospital linnet@pet.auh.dk;4. Department of Psychiatry , Oxford University;5. Pathophysiology and Experimental Tomography Centre, Aarhus University Hospital |
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Abstract: | In this study we compared gambling behaviour of 15 pathological gamblers (PG) and 15 non-problem gamblers (NPG) on two conditions of a commercially available slot machine. One condition used a commercially available two-second event frequency (games per minute), while the other condition used an experimental three-second event frequency. The payback percentage (wins relative to losses) and reward frequency (wins over number of games played) varied randomly across conditions. The results showed that PG had significantly higher measures than NPG on time spent gambling, excitement level and desire to play again in the two-second condition. In the three-second condition there were no differences in excitement level and desire to play again. The number of PG playing the maximum time (60 minutes) was reduced in the three-second version, and reward frequency contributed to reduction in time spent gambling. The results may have implications for understanding behavioural mechanisms of pathological gambling among slot machine players. |
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Keywords: | pathological gambling clinical psychology neuroimaging addiction addictive behaviour gambling |
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