Jarvis Buck 
If you are a gambler, you know how hard it can be to lose. But what you may not know is that losing is not the only way for a gambler to feel. In fact, winning is one of the most important ways for a gambler to feel.
Psychodynamics
A psychodynamic approach to gambling addiction is a therapeutic method that aims to treat the root of the problem. By assessing the patient’s internal world, therapists are better able to understand the motivations behind their gambling. The purpose of this article is to introduce the reader to the main concepts and to explain how these concepts are applied in treating gambling addiction.
Gambling addiction is a problem that affects many people. It can have a negative effect on the gambler and their family members. As well as the monetary cost, gamblers can suffer from poor mental health and relationship problems.
Compulsive gambling is similar to alcoholism and substance misuse. The motivation for gambling is to escape or to fill a void. This may include the desire to feel in control or to avoid problems. Often, the need to gamble is accompanied by cognitive regret, phantasies, or emotional coping.
Problem gamblers are often diagnosed with co-occurring disorders. These include personality disorders, substance use disorder, and OCD. There are several types of therapy available to these patients. However, the most effective approach is based on the patient’s needs. Psychotherapy includes both individual and group sessions.
A study of sixty problem gamblers treated with a psychodynamic approach showed that the effectiveness of this treatment increased. The results indicated that the model successfully met the complex clinical needs of the patients.
Although the model had a high rate of success, there were limitations to the study. One was the limited sample size. Another limitation was the disparity between the start and end data. Therefore, future research should be conducted with a larger sample size.
Pathway two
The Pathways model of gambling addiction was developed to help counselors identify the etiological factors that differentiate subgroups of problem gamblers. It is a multifaceted approach that incorporates a wide variety of biological and psychological determinants.
It provides guidance for individualized treatment planning, but the model has not been fully tested. This study was designed to test the model’s assumptions and to refine the conceptualization. A cross-sectional design was used to assess three types of gamblers.
All participants in the study experienced an emotional state of expectancy prior to gambling. However, positive emotions did not always precede gambling. Gambling-related physiological arousal was also consistent with the pathways model.
Participants in the study had varying backgrounds and experiences. They were recruited from gambling websites. Approximately 68.8% of respondents were male and nearly all were UK residents.
Individuals in pathway 2 were impulsive gamblers. Two participants reported using substances, including alcohol and gambling commercials. Unlike pathway 1, these individuals were not identified by the model as problem gamblers.
Earlier analyses have identified a number of etiological variables. Three themes of antecedents were noted, including increasing gambling.
Gambling-related cognitive distortions were common across the subgroups. Positive reinforcement was more prevalent among impulsive gamblers. Similarly, negative reinforcement was more common among emotional gamblers.
Gambling as a function of negative reinforcement was also more prevalent among clinically assessed impulsive gamblers. Although these occurrences were not exclusive to pathway 2, there was evidence that they were above the clinical CAMH-IGS cutoff score.
Prefrontal cortex
While the reward deficiency model has been proposed as a possible explanation for addictive behavior, recent research suggests that the real explanation is more complex. The reward circuitry is a network of brain regions that fire when they are exposed to pleasing stimuli. However, the brain regions involved in reward circuitry may be less important in the decision-making process.
It has been well established that patients with substance use disorders have impaired sensitivity to reward. These results suggest that comorbid substance dependence could affect some of the target regions, but there is no evidence to show that the alterations in the prefrontal cortex are responsible for these changes.
A number of studies have investigated the decision-making processes in a probabilistic gambling scenario. Three have focused on the Iowa Gambling Task (IGT).
This task measures decision-making by requiring participants to choose between equal or risky choices. For example, gamblers must decide whether to bet a small amount of money on a slim chance of winning or a large sum on a safe chance of winning. In the IGT, patients must make a judgment about the probability of receiving the prize, a “winning ticket”.
Other studies have investigated the activity of the insular cortex during the IGT. Researchers have found increased activation in the insular cortex in gambling disordered patients.
Several other studies have shown that people with addiction problems have abnormal functional connectivity to the prefrontal cortex. These findings have triggered speculation that the insula could be hyperactive in problem gamblers.
Reward circuits
Gambling addiction may be triggered by stimulation of the reward system in the brain. Dopamine is released in response to the stimulation. As a result, gamblers feel an euphoric feeling.
Several neuroimaging studies have demonstrated changes in the frontostriatal circuits in gambling disorder patients. The circuits involve the prefrontal cortex and reward-related areas. These areas are important for decision-making and reward processing.
A 2003 Yale University study found that problem gamblers have low impulsivity and less activation in the prefrontal cortex during gambling. This may be the result of increased activity in the ventral striatum.
Miedl et al. studied functional connectivity in gambling disorder patients during value-based decision making. Their results indicated that the ventral striatum was not activated during the monetary reward in the control group, whereas it was activated during the gain outcome. They concluded that the ventral striatum played an important role in predicting how pathological gamblers would react to monetary rewards.
In addition to increased ventral striatal activity, the amygdala was also significantly activated in the problem gamblers. Both regions are known to play a role in impulsivity.
Another study involving adult rats revealed that conditioned cues with low uncertainty sensitized responses in the long-term. Some research has shown that erotic rewards recruit the posterior orbitofrontal cortex. Similarly, monetary rewards recruit the anterior orbitofrontal cortex.
Several fMRI studies have documented changes in brain activation in response to a monetary reward. However, these studies have also uncovered mixed results.
Medications used to treat Parkinson’s disease and restless legs syndrome
Dopamine agonists have been used to treat Parkinson’s disease and restless legs syndrome. While these drugs are considered to be effective, they may also have some unintended side effects. For example, a recent study suggests that dopamine agonists may be associated with the formation of impulse control disorders. These include compulsive shopping and gambling.
A recent review of published literature found that pathological gambling has been linked to levodopa and other dopamine agonists, as well as a handful of other drugs. However, this link was not well-defined. Several studies have indicated that ergot derivatives are also associated with a similar phenomenon.
One of these drugs, ropinirole, is prescribed for the treatment of restless legs syndrome. This molecule has similar pharmacodynamic properties to cabergoline. Another drug, apomorphine, has been linked to pathological gambling. In addition, the Italian Medicine Agency has issued a public statement on the increased risk of impulse control disorders associated with dopamine agonists.
Although the risk of these conditions is still uncertain, the potential downsides to long-term use of these drugs can be serious. Moreover, these drugs can lead to a dose-dependent tolerance, which may result in worsening symptoms. The best way to avoid these issues is to limit your exposure to these medications.
Some studies have reported that patients with restless legs syndrome have a higher lifetime prevalence of comorbid depression. Similarly, the quality of life of RLS patients is lower than the average person.
Losing is not pleasant for gamblers
Losing isn’t exactly pleasant for gamblers. Unlike in the workplace, gambling is a leisure activity that can be expensive. Often, the game of chance can be a distraction from real life issues, which can lead to a relapse. Moreover, losses have been shown to lower a person’s sense of self-worth. Thankfully, losing is not the end of the world for most people.
However, losing does have some surprising effects on the brain. According to the Centers for Disease Control, the brain is more sensitive to small losses than big wins. As a result, losing a large sum of money may have little effect on the enjoyment of a casino night.
Despite this, losing a few bucks won’t be the end of the world for many gamblers. Typically, gamblers will invest time and money in order to win back their losses. They will also engage in “post-loss speeding,” in which they place bets in a bid to recoup the cost of their lost bets.
While winning is not the main focus of most gamblers, it is a significant part of the experience. The aforementioned is one of the reasons gambling is so popular in the first place. Besides, it’s a fun way to pass the time.
Sadly, some gamblers will find themselves suffering from a gambling addiction. While a few small wagers might be fun, they can turn into a full-blown splurge if the chips keep on falling. If you’re struggling with a gambling addiction, it’s a good idea to seek professional help. Not only can a gambling problem affect your mental health, it can also ruin your social life.
