Go-no-go performance in pathological gamblers

Psychiatry Res. 2008 Oct 30;161(1):1-10. doi: 10.1016/j.psychres.2007.06.026. Epub 2008 Sep 11.

Abstract

Previous neuropsychological studies demonstrated various deficits of impulse control in pathological gamblers (PGs). However, there are limited data available on response-inhibition impairment among PGs. The present study attempted to assess response inhibition in untreated PGs (N=83), in comparison with normal subjects (N=84). Go/no-go and target-detection conditions of a computerized task were used as a measure of response-inhibition ability. A repeated measures analysis of covariance (ANCOVA-RM) was used with response time, variability of response time, and number of false alarms and misses as dependent measures; group (PG and controls) as the between-subjects measure; condition (target detection or go/no-go) and time slice (first and second in each condition) as repeated measures within-subject factors; and educational level as a covariate. Our results showed that PGs were significantly more impaired in both target detection and go/no-go task performance than controls. The PGs had significantly more false alarms and misses than controls, and they were slower and less consistent in their responses.

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Attention*
  • Discrimination Learning
  • Disruptive, Impulse Control, and Conduct Disorders / psychology*
  • Female
  • Gambling / psychology*
  • Humans
  • Inhibition, Psychological*
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Neuropsychological Tests
  • Pattern Recognition, Visual*
  • Psychomotor Performance*
  • Reaction Time