Understanding the relationship between pathological gambling and gambling-related cognition scores: the role of alcohol use disorder and delusion proneness

Abstract

There is considerable evidence for an association between pathological gambling and scores on validated psychometric measures of erroneous gambling-related cognitions. However, a potential problem with this literature is that samples of pathological gamblers score higher on indicators of co-morbidity (e.g. substance misuse) that are also associated with poorer decision-making and reasoning abilities. We aimed to examine the relationship between pathological gambling and gambling-related erroneous beliefs after controlling for alcohol misuse. A sample of 140 regular gamblers completed a detailed psychological assessment including measures of pathological gambling (NORC DSM-IV Screen Self-Administered), delusion proneness (the Peters et al. Delusions Inventory), alcohol use (the Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test) and gambling beliefs (Gambling-Related Cognitions Scale). Pathological gamblers scored higher than other regular gamblers on all these measures. Although alcohol use disorder was not directly related to delusion proneness, a combination of higher alcohol use disorder and delusion proneness was associated with higher gambling-related cognition scores. Our findings confirm previous evidence supporting an association between pathological gambling and greater endorsement of erroneous gambling-related cognitions. Alcohol misuse and delusion proneness may be factors that strengthen this association.

Keywords:

• alcohol
• pathological gambling
• erroneous beliefs
• substance abuse
• addiction

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Reza Abdollahnejad

Reza Abdollahnejad is a PhD student at Adelaide University. He has worked as a psychologist and a director in the field of addiction for more than 10 years. He has delivered presentations and educational programmes at several international seminars and conferences in the substance use disorders field. He has also published reports and papers on addiction and music therapy. He is a founder and a board member of some national and international associations, namely the International Association for Music & Medicine and the Persian Therapeutic Community Association.

Paul Delfabbro

Paul Delfabbro is an associate professor based at the School of Psychology at the University of Adelaide where he lectures in learning theory and advanced methodology and statistics. He is the author of around 200 reports and papers on various areas of social policy, including gambling and child protection, and has completed numerous research projects for State and Federal Government departments. In the area of gambling, he has undertaken studies on the prevalence of gambling in adult and adolescent populations, experimental studies of gambling behaviour and analyses of the effectiveness of harm-minimization strategies.

Linley Denson

Linley Denson has a PhD in psychology and is a clinical psychologist and neuropsychologist, and a Senior Lecturer at the University of Adelaide’s School of Psychology. Her research interests centre on psychological aspects of health and lifestyle decision-making, use of mental health services, and intergenerational family care. She is also a part-time member of the South Australian Guardianship Board.