TY - JOUR
T1 - Impulsivity and Stress Response in Pathological Gamblers During the Trier Social Stress Test
AU - Maniaci, Giuseppe
AU - Cannizzaro, Carla
AU - Van Holst, Ruth J.
AU - Maniaci, null
AU - Maniaci, null
AU - Goudriaan, null
PY - 2018
Y1 - 2018
N2 - Gambling has been associated with increased sympathetic nervous system output and stimulation of the hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal axis. However it is unclear how these systems are affected in pathological gambling. This study aimed to investigate the effect of the Trier Social Stress Test (TSST) on cortisol and on cardiac interbeat intervals in relation to impulsivity, in a sample of male pathological gamblers compared to healthy controls. In addition, we investigated the correlation between the TSST, duration of the disorder and impulsivity. A total of 35 pathological gamblers and 30 healthy controls, ranging from 19 to 58 years old and all male, participated in this study. Stress response was measured during and after the TSST by salivary cortisol and cardiac interbeat intervals; impulsivity was assessed with the Barratt Impulsiveness Scale (BIS-11). Exposure to the TSST produced a significant increase in salivary cortisol and interbeat intervals in both groups, without differences between groups. We found a negative correlation between baseline cortisol and duration of pathological gambling indicating that the longer the duration of the disorder the lower the baseline cortisol levels. Additionally, we found a main effect of impulsivity across groups on interbeat interval during the TSST, indicating an association between impulsivity and the intensity of the neurovegetative stress response during the TSST. Involvement of the hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal axis in pathological gambling was confirmed together with evidence of a correlation between length of the disorder and diminished baseline cortisol levels. Impulsivity emerged as a personality trait expressed by pathological gamblers; however the neurovegetative response to the TSST, although associated with impulsivity, appeared to be independent of the presence of pathological gambling.
AB - Gambling has been associated with increased sympathetic nervous system output and stimulation of the hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal axis. However it is unclear how these systems are affected in pathological gambling. This study aimed to investigate the effect of the Trier Social Stress Test (TSST) on cortisol and on cardiac interbeat intervals in relation to impulsivity, in a sample of male pathological gamblers compared to healthy controls. In addition, we investigated the correlation between the TSST, duration of the disorder and impulsivity. A total of 35 pathological gamblers and 30 healthy controls, ranging from 19 to 58 years old and all male, participated in this study. Stress response was measured during and after the TSST by salivary cortisol and cardiac interbeat intervals; impulsivity was assessed with the Barratt Impulsiveness Scale (BIS-11). Exposure to the TSST produced a significant increase in salivary cortisol and interbeat intervals in both groups, without differences between groups. We found a negative correlation between baseline cortisol and duration of pathological gambling indicating that the longer the duration of the disorder the lower the baseline cortisol levels. Additionally, we found a main effect of impulsivity across groups on interbeat interval during the TSST, indicating an association between impulsivity and the intensity of the neurovegetative stress response during the TSST. Involvement of the hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal axis in pathological gambling was confirmed together with evidence of a correlation between length of the disorder and diminished baseline cortisol levels. Impulsivity emerged as a personality trait expressed by pathological gamblers; however the neurovegetative response to the TSST, although associated with impulsivity, appeared to be independent of the presence of pathological gambling.
KW - Cortisol; Gambling disorder; Heart rate; Impulsivity; Pathological gambling; Problem gambling; Stress response; Trier Social Stress Test; Adult; Exercise Test; Gambling; Heart Rate; Humans; Hydrocortisone; Hypothalamo-Hypophyseal System; Male; Middle Aged
KW - Psychological
KW - Cortisol; Gambling disorder; Heart rate; Impulsivity; Pathological gambling; Problem gambling; Stress response; Trier Social Stress Test; Adult; Exercise Test; Gambling; Heart Rate; Humans; Hydrocortisone; Hypothalamo-Hypophyseal System; Male; Middle Aged
KW - Psychological
UR - http://hdl.handle.net/10447/401629
UR - http://www.wkap.nl/
M3 - Article
VL - 34
SP - 147
EP - 160
JO - Journal of Gambling Behavior
JF - Journal of Gambling Behavior
SN - 0742-0714
ER -