Cited by 508Gambling Behavior and TreatmentsSubstance Abuse Treatment and OutcomesNeural and Behavioral Psychology Studies

The neurobiology of pathological gambling and drug addiction: an overview and new findings

Open access
Potenza, Marc N·2008·Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences

Abstract

Gambling is a prevalent recreational behaviour. Approximately 5% of adults have been estimated to experience problems with gambling. The most severe form of gambling, pathological gambling (PG), is recognized as a mental health condition. Two alternate non-mutually exclusive conceptualizations of PG have considered it as an obsessive-compulsive spectrum disorder and a ‘behavioural’ addiction. The most appropriate conceptualization of PG has important theoretical and practical implications. Data suggest a closer relationship between PG and substance use disorders than exists between PG and obsessive-compulsive disorder. This paper will review data on the neurobiology of PG, consider its conceptualization as a behavioural addiction, discuss impulsivity as an underlying construct, and present new brain imaging findings investigating the neural correlates of craving states in PG as compared to those in cocaine dependence. Implications for prevention and treatment strategies will be discussed.

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Crossref · 10.1098/rstb.2008.0100

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Authors
Potenza, M. N.
Affiliations
Yale University (US)
Corresponding author
Potenza, Marc N
Venue
Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences
Published
2008-07-18
Volume
363
Issue
1507
Pages
3181-3189
ISSN
  • 0962-8436 (ISSN-L)
  • 1471-2970
OpenAlex
W2069156693
Cited by
508
References
91
Citations by year
2026: 13 · 2025: 16 · 2024: 18 · 2023: 9 · 2022: 13 · 2021: 18 · 2020: 61 · 2019: 25 · 2018: 27 · 2017: 28 · 2016: 31 · 2015: 32 · 2014: 46 · 2013: 39 · 2012: 44
FWCI
4.99
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society B Biological Sciences (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed Central (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
Funders
  • National Institutes of Health (1ul1rr024925-01)
  • National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (P50 AA12870, P50AA015632, RL1AA017539, P50AA012870)
  • National Institute on Drug Abuse (P50DA016556, P50DA009241, R01DA019039, R01DA020908, P50-DA-0-9241, P50-DA16556)
  • National Center for Research Resources (UL1-RR024925)
Topics
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Gambling Behavior and Treatments
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Epidemiology › Substance Abuse Treatment and Outcomes
  • Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cognitive Neuroscience › Neural and Behavioral Psychology Studies
Keywords
gambling addiction, drug addiction, neurobiology, behavioral addiction, obsessive-compulsive spectrum disorders, impulsivity, craving, cocaine dependence, neural correlates, substance use disorders, prevention and treatment
MeSH terms
Gambling, Humans, Models, Biological, Neurobiology, Neurotransmitter Agents, Substance-Related Disorders

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