Cited by 626Decision-Making and Behavioral EconomicsGambling Behavior and TreatmentsSubstance Abuse Treatment and Outcomes

Steep delay discounting and addictive behavior: a meta-analysis of continuous associations: Delay discounting and addiction

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Amlung, Michael, Vedelago, Lana, Acker, John, Balodis, Iris, MacKillop, James·2017·Addiction

Abstract

AIMS: To synthesize continuous associations between delayed reward discounting (DRD) and both addiction severity and quantity-frequency (QF); to examine moderators of these relationships; and to investigate publication bias. METHODS: Meta-analysis of published studies examining continuous associations between DRD and addictive behaviors. Published, peer-reviewed studies on addictive behaviors (alcohol, tobacco, cannabis, stimulants, opiates and gambling) were identified via PubMed, MEDLINE and PsycInfo. Studies were restricted to DRD measures of monetary gains. Random-effects meta-analysis was conducted using Pearson's r as the effect size. Publication bias was evaluated using fail-safe N, Begg-Mazumdar and Egger's tests, meta-regression of publication year and effect size and imputation of missing studies. RESULTS: ). Significantly larger effect sizes were observed for studies examining severity compared with QF (P = 0.01), but not between the type of addictive behavior (P = 0.30) or DRD assessment (P = 0.90). Indices of publication bias suggested a modest impact of unpublished findings. CONCLUSIONS: Delayed reward discounting is associated robustly with continuous measures of addiction severity and quantity-frequency. This relation is generally robust across type of addictive behavior and delayed reward discounting assessment modality.

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Research works printed but not linked: 3

  1. [53]Stanger C Ryan SR Fu H 2012 Delay discounting predicts adolescent substance abuse treatment outcome Exp Clin Psychopharmacol 20 205 212 10.1037/a0026543 22182419 PMC3906638 · DOI
  2. [77]Castellanos-Ryan N Struve M Whelan R 2014 Neural and cognitive correlates of the common and specific variance across externalizing problems in young adolescence Am J Psychiatry 171 1310 1319 10.1176/appi.ajp.2014.13111499 25073448 · DOI
  3. [95]Ohmura Y Takahashi T Kitamura N 2005 Discounting delayed and probabilistic monetary gains and losses by smokers of cigarettes Psychopharmacology (Berl) 182 508 515 10.1007/s00213-005-0110-8 16167142 · DOI

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Authors
Amlung, M., Vedelago, L., Acker, J., Balodis, I., & MacKillop, J.
Affiliations
  • Peter Boris Centre for Addictions Research (CA)
  • Syracuse VA Medical Center (US)
  • Homewood Research Institute (CA)
Corresponding author
Amlung, Michael
Venue
Addiction
Publisher
Wiley
Published
2016-09-01
Volume
112
Issue
1
Pages
51-62
ISSN
0965-2140 (ISSN-L)
OpenAlex
W2492643729
Cited by
626
References
107
Citations by year
2026: 57 · 2025: 55 · 2024: 56 · 2023: 68 · 2022: 68 · 2021: 72 · 2020: 100 · 2019: 52 · 2018: 58 · 2017: 32 · 2016: 6
FWCI
7.31
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • Addiction (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed Central (acceptedVersion)
Funders
National Institute on Drug Abuse (P30DA027827)
Topics
  • Social Sciences › Decision Sciences › General Decision Sciences › Decision-Making and Behavioral Economics
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Gambling Behavior and Treatments
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Epidemiology › Substance Abuse Treatment and Outcomes
Keywords
delay discounting, addictive behavior, addiction severity, impulsivity, alcohol consumption, tobacco use, cannabis use, stimulants, opiates, gambling, publication bias, moderators
MeSH terms
Humans, Reward, Severity of Illness Index, Behavior, Addictive, Publication Bias, Delay Discounting

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