Attentional biases in problem and non-problem gamblers

Abstract

Background: From a cognitive perspective, attentional biases are deemed as factors responsible

Attentional bias in non-problem gamblers, problem gamblers, and abstinent pathological gamblers: An experimental study

“…In NPGs, no difference between attentional detection of neutral and gambling-related stimuli was found, and was therefore in line with results of past studies showing that no attentional bias is observable in the absence of problem gambling (e.g., Brevers et al, 2011aBrevers et al, , 2011bCiccarelli et al, 2016;Wolfling et al, 2011). PGs took less time to respond when presented with gambling-related pictures in the early orientation of attention.…”

“…In contrast to this, Ciccarelli et al (2016) study found a facilitation bias in reacting to gambling-related stimuli only in the initial orienting of attention among problem gamblers.…”

“…Despite the heterogeneity of the adopted measures, the psychological literature has consistently demonstrated that gamblers' attention is biased towards gambling information and that this effect is not observable in non-problem gamblers (Boyer and Dickerson, 2003;Brevers et al, 2011aBrevers et al, , 2011bCiccarelli et al, 2016;Diskin and Hodgins, 1999;McCusker and Gettings, 1997;Molde et al, 2010;Wolfling et al, 2011). Nevertheless, some important aspects need to be addressed (Hønsi et al, 2013).…”

Comparison of impulsivity in non-problem, at-risk and problem gamblers

“…In line with previous studies (e.g. refs 51 and 52), these were non-problem gamblers that scored 0–2 (n = 978), gamblers at risk with a score equal to 3-4 (n = 87), and problem gamblers that scored 5–20 (n = 55) with the maximum being 13 in the present sample. Most of the forms of gambling among the gamblers are mahjong, poker cards, and lottery, because casino games are legally prohibited in whole Mainland China, in accordance with that in our previous study59.…”

“…To better reflect the taxonomy of gambling behavior and elucidate the potential role of psychological and neurocognitive components in the development from recreational gambling to problem gambling, two recent studies used a non-dichotomous classification of gambling disorder comparing people with PG to those at an increased risk of developing PG (i.e., at-risk PG) as well as those with no risk of PG ((i.e., no-risk PG) on tasks of attentional bias51, and response inhibition and cognitive flexibility52. Impaired response inhibition and cognitive flexibility were found in PG compared with at-risk and no-risk PG, and differences on attentional biases were not significant between PG and at-risk PG, but significant between PG and no-risk PG.…”