Altered dopamine function in pathological gambling (1997)

Psychol Med. 1997 Mar;27(2):473-5.

Bergh C, Eklund T, Södersten P, Nordin C.

Source

Department of Clinical Neuroscience and Family Medicine, Karolinska Institute, Huddinge, Sweden.

Abstract

BACKGROUND:

The possibility that monoaminergic neurotransmission is altered in pathological gambling was examined.

METHODS:

Monoamines and their metabolites were measured in CSF obtained at level L4-5 from ten pathological gamblers and seven controls.

RESULTS:

A decrease in dopamine and an increase in 3,4-dihydroxyphenylacetic acid and homovanilic acid was found. Noradrenaline and its metabolite 3-methoxy-4-hydroxyphenylglycol was also increased but 5-hydroxytryptamine and 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid were unchanged.

CONCLUSION:

It is suggested that the function of the dopaminergic system, possibly mediating positive and negative reward, and the noradrenergic system, possibly mediating selective attention, is changed in pathological gambling.