An exploratory study of the role played by hedonic dysregulation in gambling disorder

ABSTRACT

Research has demonstrated that individuals suffering from Gambling Disorder (GD) are characterized by abnormal responses to pleasant stimuli and a proneness to act rashly in response to positive emotions. However, psychological impairments that may explain these results remain unexplored. This study tests the hypothesis that individuals with GD would show impairments in the capacity to appreciate positive emotions. The South Oaks Gambling Screen (SOGS), the Impulsive Behavior Scale Short Form (UPPS-P) and the Ways of Savoring Checklist (WOSC) were administered to clinical sample (n = 87) and to controls (n = 99). Scores of the clinical sample significantly differed from scores obtained by controls on some subscales of the WOSC (Comparing and Killjoy Thinking) and the UPPS-P. The proneness to act rashly in response to positive emotions and the capacity to appreciate positive emotional states emerged as predictors of GD’s severity. Findings support previous data showing a role played by the emotional facets of impulsivity in GD and suggest that individuals suffering from GD may experience dysfunctions in the capacity to appreciate positive emotions. This study suggests that individuals suffering from GD may fail to normally appreciate positive emotional states because of abnormalities in the savoring capacities.

KEYWORDS:

• Gambling disorder
• addiction
• emotion regulation
• impulsivity
• savoring
• pleasure
• dampening

Authors’ contribution

PV was involved in the study concept and interpretation of literature, study supervision, critical revision. GR was involved in the review of literature and manuscript drafting.

Conflict of interest Constraints on publishing

None.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Additional information

Funding

None.

Notes on contributors

Patrizia Velotti

Patrizia Velotti (PhD) is an associate professor at Sapienza, University of Rome and past leader of the Interpersonal and intergroup Emotion Regulation Lab at the University of Genoa. Her research interests are focused on the study of emotion regulation processes and their implications for psychopathology. She has developed a strong expertise in the study of clinical implications of emotion dysregulation. Some of this work as also regarded possible shared mechanisms underlying maladaptive behavior often associated with gambling disorder. She has written more than 60 peer-reviewed articles and several book chapters in the field of emotion regulation. To see her work: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1933-8314

Guyonne Rogier

Guyonne Rogier (PhD) received her PhD degree in Clinical and Dynamic Psychology and is currently Post-Doc at Sapienza University of Rome. Her research primarily focuses on factors that determine behavioral addictions with a specific interest in emotion regulation issues.