Search Results (134)

Background and Objectives: Gambling disorder (GD) is a behavioral addiction associated with distress, comorbidity, and functional impairment. This exploratory cross-sectional study examined associations between DSM-5-TR symptom burden, personality dimensions, cognitive emotion regulation, quality of life, and sociodemographic variables in a Romanian clinical sample. Materials and Methods: The sample included 122 adults with psychiatrist-confirmed pathological gambling/GD recruited from “Prof. Dr. Alexandru Obregia” Clinical Hospital of Psychiatry, Bucharest. Personality was assessed with the Personality Clinical Form (PCF; 109 valid profiles), cognitive emotion regulation with the Cognitive Emotion Regulation Questionnaire, and quality of life with the Quality of Life Inventory. Symptom burden was measured using a nine-item binary DSM-5 symptom burden index. Results: The symptom burden index showed a pronounced ceiling effect: median = 9.00 (IQR = 9.00–9.00; range = 4–9), with 91.0% classified as severe and 77.9% meeting all nine criteria. In PCF analyses, symptom burden was positively associated, after Benjamini–Hochberg correction, with broad personality pathology, including maladaptive personality dimensions, personality-functioning indicators, and personality-disorder feature scales; the strongest association involved borderline features. Catastrophizing and Blaming Others were positively associated with severity, whereas Positive Reappraisal, Putting into Perspective, and Positive Refocusing were negatively associated. Quality of life was very low overall and associated with personality and coping variables, but not directly with symptom burden. Criterion-count rank distributions differed by marital status and perceived social support; occupational status showed an omnibus distributional difference, but no pairwise contrast survived correction. Conclusions: GD was characterized by severe symptom burden and restricted score variability. Findings support multidimensional assessment of personality functioning, emotion regulation, quality of life, and social–contextual vulnerability. Full article

Background/Objectives: Adolescent mental health problems have increased in recent years, with growing concern about the impact of digital behaviors such as problematic video game use and gambling. Internet Gaming Disorder (IGD) and Problem Gambling Symptoms may share psychological risk markers, but evidence in Spanish adolescents is limited. This study aimed to examine the relationship between IGD, problem gambling symptoms, and mental health, and to identify sociodemographic, psychological, and behavioral factors associated, including microtransactions and loot boxes. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted with secondary education students from Extremadura (Spain). The final sample included 343 participants. Measures included an ad hoc questionnaire on video game use, the IGDS9-SF, SOGS-RA, and the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ). Descriptive analyses, Spearman correlations, and multivariable regression (Poisson and negative binomial) were performed. Results: IGD and gambling were positively correlated (Spearman’s ρ = 0.386, p < 0.001) and associated with higher mental health difficulty scores (IGD: ρ = 0.299, p < 0.001; gambling: ρ = 0.214, p < 0.001). Male gender was associated with both outcomes (IGD: incidence rate ratio [IRR] = 1.21 [95% Confidence Interval: 1.13–1.30]; gambling: IRR = 2.90 [1.85–4.60]). Microtransactions were associated with both behaviors (IGD: IRR = 1.17 [1.09–1.25]; gambling: IRR = 1.74 [1.19–2.54]), while loot box use was related only to IGD (IRR = 1.13 [1.05–1.21]). Total SDQ score was positively associated with both IGD (IRR = 1.02 [1.02–1.03]) and gambling (IRR = 1.10 [1.06–1.13]). Younger age was associated with higher IGD scores (IRR = 0.97 [0.96–0.99]). Conclusions: There are similarities in the associations among the examined factors and increased scores of IGD and gambling in adolescents, particularly male gender, higher mental health difficulties scores, and involvement in monetized gaming systems. School-based, family, and public health prevention strategies may benefit from addressing the importance of psychological well-being and increase awareness of the potential risks associated with digital gaming practices. Full article

Gambling disorder (GD) constitutes a worldwide social and economic burden and is associated with impaired functioning and reduced quality of life. GD shares important mechanistic substrates with obsessive–compulsive disorder (OCD), including dysfunction of cortico-striato-thalamo-cortical circuitry and dysregulation of serotonergic pathways involved in impulsivity, compulsivity, and impaired inhibitory control. On this basis, selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), widely used in several psychiatric disorders, have been investigated as potential pharmacological treatments for GD. Evidence concerning fluoxetine, fluvoxamine, paroxetine, sertraline, citalopram, and escitalopram is heterogeneous and overall limited. Some early single-blind, randomized, and open-label studies have reported reductions in gambling urges, severity, and compulsive symptoms. However, larger and more rigorous placebo-controlled trials have frequently failed to demonstrate consistent superiority over placebo. Interpretation of these findings is further limited by small sample sizes, short observation periods, high dropout rates, heterogeneous outcome measures, and substantial placebo response. While SSRIs remain biologically plausible candidates for modulating the compulsive and impulsive dimensions of GD, current evidence does not support their routine use as first-line pharmacological treatment. Their role appears most justified in the presence of psychiatric comorbidity or within individualized, phenotype-oriented treatment strategies. Full article

Gambling disorder (GD) is a behavioral addiction associated with significant psychosocial consequences and high psychiatric comorbidity, including anxiety, depression, and impulsivity; however, the role of physical activity (PA) as a potential modulator of these alterations remains unclear. The aim of this study was to examine the relationship between PA levels and symptoms of anxiety, depression, and impulsivity in patients with GD. An observational study was conducted with 62 adults diagnosed according to DSM-5 criteria, recruited from AJUPAREVA (Valladolid, Spain). PA was assessed using the International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ), Personality trails where evaluated with CEPER III, impulsivity with the Barratt Impulsiveness Scale (BIS-11) and the Plutchik Impulsivity Scale, and anxiety and depression with the Hamilton Anxiety (HAM-A) and Depression (HAM-D) scales. Participants were predominantly male (91.5%) and reported moderate-to-high PA levels. No significant differences were found in total impulsivity across PA levels; however, motor impulsivity was higher in highly active individuals, while non-planning impulsivity was greater in those with low PA. Anxiety and depression were highly prevalent (~65%) with no significant associations with PA. In conclusion, PA was not significantly associated with psychiatric outcomes in this clinical sample, highlighting the need for larger, longitudinal studies to clarify its potential role within multidisciplinary interventions for GD. Full article

Background: Gambling disorders are an escalating public health issue, with notable increases across age groups, particularly among adolescents and young adults. This study examines the role of coping strategies in gambling behaviors among university students aged 17–48 years and explores the prediction potential of artificial neural networks. Methods: The sample included 218 participants (M = 21.89, SD = 5.57). Results: A multilayer perceptron neural network was implemented to classify gambling risk based on coping strategies. Significant correlations between specific coping strategies and higher levels of gambling disorders were revealed. The neural network model demonstrated an 85% accuracy in predicting gambling risk, with the most influential factors identified as autonomy, negative urgency, gender, denial, and lack of perseverance. Conclusions: These findings highlight the effectiveness of neural networks in identifying individuals most at risk for GDs. Full article

Background/Objectives: Gambling disorder (GD) is a behavioral addiction characterized by persistent and repetitive gambling behaviors that cause significant psychological distress and functional impairment. Increasing evidence indicates that difficulties in emotion regulation are a key factor in the development and persistence of GD. This systematic review aimed to summarize and critically evaluate the existing literature on the relationship between emotion regulation strategies and gambling disorder, with a specific focus on studies using the Emotion Regulation Questionnaire (ERQ) and the Cognitive Emotion Regulation Questionnaire (CERQ). Methods: The review was conducted according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA 2020) guidelines. Systematic searches were performed in PubMed and Scopus databases for studies published between 25 October 2015 and 25 October 2025. The methodological quality and risk of bias of the included studies were evaluated using the Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) Critical Appraisal Checklist and JBI Checklist for Randomized Controlled Trials. Data extraction and synthesis were performed manually by two independent reviewers. Eligible studies included adult participants (≥18 years) diagnosed with gambling disorder or pathological gambling and using the ERQ or CERQ to assess emotion regulation. Results: Nine studies met the inclusion criteria, comprising a total of 607 patients with GD. Across studies, individuals with GD consistently showed reduced cognitive reappraisal, greater expressive suppression, and higher use of maladaptive cognitive strategies such as rumination, catastrophizing, and self-blame. All studies identified impulsivity, emotion dysregulation, alexithymia, or gambling-related cognitive distortions as significant predictors of gambling severity. Neuroimaging evidence from one study further revealed altered activation of frontal regions during negative emotion regulation. Conclusions: This review highlights the central role of emotion regulation in GD. However, the limited available ERQ/CERQ studies in GD were mostly cross-sectional, limiting causal inferences. Second, samples were predominantly male, reducing generalizability to women. Finally, only one study used neurobiological measures, hindering integration of self-report and neural data. These findings emphasize the importance of integrating emotion regulation-based interventions within therapeutic programs for gambling disorder, with ERQ and CERQ being useful tools to assess the pathology. Full article

Background: Frontal lobe circuit dysfunction, including the mesolimbic network, plays an important role in learning reward behaviors and is involved in the development of impulsive compulsive disorders (ICDs) in Parkinson’s disease (PD). ICDs in PD are characterized by disinhibited, reward-driven behaviors performed with poor impulse control, often linked to dopaminergic treatment. The purpose of the present study was to assess the presence of these behaviors in relation to frontal dysfunction and overall cognitive status in a cohort of patients with sporadic PD. Methods: The study consisted of 55 patients (n = 55), 36 males (65.5%), diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease, assessed at the First Neurological Clinic of Eginition University Hospital in Athens. The participants had a mean age of 62.6 (±13.54) years, with an average of 11.94 (±3.00) years of education and a mean disease duration of 7.17 (±5.90) years. The evaluation tools used to assess the participants were the Questionnaire for Impulsive-Compulsive Disorders in Parkinson’s Disease (QUIP), Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA), Frontal Assessment Battery (FAB), and Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS). Results: The mean score on the QUIP was 0.64 (±1.05), with a threshold of 1. Of the total number of patients (n = 55), 18 (32.72%) showed behaviors related to ICDs. The most commonly reported impulsive compulsive behavior was an excessive preoccupation with hobbies (n = 7, 38.9%), followed by a tendency toward gambling (n = 6, 33.3%). The mean score on the MoCA scale was 24.69/30 (±4.25), while the mean score on the FAB scale was 14.70/18 (±2.45). Pearson’s correlation analysis revealed a moderate positive correlation between total MoCA score and FAB (r = 0.588, p < 0.000) and a weak to moderate negative correlation between MoCA score and QUIP (r = −0.291, p = 0.038). Additionally, there was a statistically significant negative correlation between QUIP scores and performance on the MoCA attention subtests (Forward Digit Span, Backward Digit Span, and Vigilance tasks), (r = −0.389, p = 0.009). Conclusions: Lower global cognitive function, as measured by the MoCA, was strongly associated with reduced frontal lobe function, as measured by the FAB, in Parkinson’s patients. Additionally, lower scores on the MoCA, particularly in the attention subtests, showed a weak to moderate correlation with increased impulsive compulsive behaviors, as measured by the QUIP. Full article

Craving for mobile phone use is increasingly discussed as a relevant feature of problematic engagement with digital technologies. This population-based study of 1601 Spanish adults examined psychological factors (impulsivity traits and affective symptoms) and behavioral correlates linked to mobile phone craving. Primary outcome: Mobile phone craving scale (MPACS). Secondary analyses: Associations between craving and impulsivity, anxiety, depression, Internet Gaming Disorder (IGD), gambling severity, and alcohol use. Craving measured with the MPACS was most common among younger participants (16–35 years old) and strongly related to greater daily phone use, heightened impulsivity, especially urgency and sensation seeking, and higher levels of anxiety and depressive symptoms. Among individuals who use their phones for gaming or gambling (n = 463), craving was strongly associated with IGD and gambling severity, suggesting that mobile phones may amplify involvement in these behaviors. Exploratory factor analyses consistently revealed four underlying dimensions—Reactive Impulsivity, Cognitive Impulsivity, Negative Emotions, and Addictive Behaviors—each contributing differently depending on craving intensity. Logistic regression analyses showed that anxiety, impulsivity, phone-use duration, and IGD scores independently predicted high craving levels. Overall, the findings highlight mobile phone craving as a clinically meaningful, multidimensional construct tied to emotional dysregulation and behavioral addiction. Assessing craving may help identify individuals at heightened risk for problematic technology use and related psychological difficulties. Full article

Background/Objectives: Gambling disorder (GD) is characterized by a high prevalence of co-occurring psychiatric disorders, including personality disorders (PDs), which may negatively influence clinical presentation, treatment outcomes, and relapse rates. The aim of this systematic review was to synthesize recent evidence regarding the association between GD and formally diagnosed PD and/or diagnostically anchored PD symptomatology, and to describe the main personality dimension most frequently reported in affected individuals. Methods: A systematic search was conducted in the PubMed and Dialnet databases for articles published between 30 November 2015 and 30 November 2025, according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA 2020) guidelines. PubMed was selected as the primary database because it is the most comprehensive source for peer-reviewed biomedical and psychiatric research, while Dialnet was included to complement PubMed by ensuring coverage of peer-reviewed psychiatric and psychological research published in other Romance-language journals, which are often underrepresented in international databases. The methodological quality and risk of bias of the included studies were evaluated using the Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) Critical Appraisal Checklist for cross-sectional studies and the Newcastle–Ottawa Scale (NOS) for observational studies. Data extraction and synthesis were performed manually by two independent reviewers. Eight studies, predominantly cross-sectional in nature, assessing exclusively formally diagnosed personality disorders in adult individuals (≥18 years) diagnosed with GD were included. Results: Eight studies met the inclusion criteria, including a total of 4607 patients with GD. Across studies, personality pathology was highly prevalent among individuals with GD, with antisocial and borderline personality disorders most consistently reported. Elevated levels of impulsivity, emotional dysregulation, and narcissistic traits were frequently observed and were additionally associated with greater gambling severity, earlier onset, and poorer clinical outcomes. Antisocial personality symptoms were strongly linked to high-risk gambling subtypes, while obsessive–compulsive personality traits showed a more heterogeneous relationship with gambling severity. Conclusions: These results underscore the importance of personality assessment in individuals with GD and highlight the need for longitudinal studies using standardized diagnostic frameworks to inform tailored prevention and treatment strategies. Full article

Background/Objectives: Tooth wear (TW) is a prevalent multifactorial condition resulting from chemical erosion and mechanical forces, yet the contributions of risk-group status and salivary factors remain insufficiently characterized. This study aimed to investigate the relationship between salivary characteristics and the severity of chemical and mechanical TW in at-risk groups, including gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), sleep bruxism (SB), eating disorders (EDs) and gambling disorder (GD). Methods: This cross-sectional observational study enrolled adults categorized into the four mutually exclusive at-risk groups and an age and sex-matched healthy control group. Demographic information, medical history, oral hygiene, diet, stress, and parafunctional habits were obtained through questionnaires. TW was assessed by a single examiner using TWES 2.0. Maximum bilateral force and salivary pH, flow and buffer capacity was measured. Correlations, multivariate linear regression, and mediation models were used to explore the relationships between the different variables and TW. Results: In total, 147 participants, divided into five groups (34 with GERD, 28 with SB 20 with GD, 20 with ED, and 45 controls) were included. The lowest resting salivary pH was observed in the GERD and ED groups (GERD: 6.63 ± 0.61; ED: 6.62 ± 0.52). The GERD group also exhibited the highest chemical (1.51 ± 0.58) and mechanical (1.08 ± 0.58) TW. Chemical and mechanical wear were strongly correlated, and mechanical wear increased with age. Risk-group status and salivary pH explained 47% of chemical wear, while age and bite force explained 54% of mechanical wear. Conclusions: Chemical TW was strongly linked to risk-group status—particularly GERD/ED—and low salivary pH, while mechanical TW related to age and bite force. Further longitudinal studies with larger samples, employing standardized methodologies and criteria are needed. Full article

Background: In psychiatry, gambling is classified as an addiction-related disorder and is characterized by a persistent, problematic pattern of behaviour that leads to significant distress and functional impairment. This study aims to explore the prevalence, underlying motivations, and potential academic impact of gambling behaviours among medical students in Poland. Methods: An anonymous online survey was conducted among students from multiple medical universities across Poland. Participants completed a sociodemographic questionnaire and the South Oaks Gambling Screen (SOGS). Respondents who reported any past or current gambling activity were additionally asked about their motivations and potential academic consequences. Results: The study included 281 participants. Active or past gambling was reported by 55% of respondents, with men significantly more likely to gamble currently. Women were predominantly non-problem gamblers, whereas men more often scored within the “some problems” range on the SOGS. Motivations also differed: women emphasised financial gain, while men cited fun, socializing, and competition. Lottery and scratch cards were most popular overall, though men preferred skill-based and casino activities. Conclusions: Although participants showed relatively low levels of gambling involvement, their risk of developing pathological gambling was comparable to that of the general population. Gender influenced involvement in different gambling patterns. Full article

Background and Objectives: Impulse control disorders (ICDs) are frequent non-motor complications of Parkinson’s disease (PD), usually related to dopaminergic therapy. Uric acid (UA) has been studied as a biomarker of PD severity and has been linked to impulsivity in non-PD populations. However, its association with ICDs in patients with PD (PwPs) has not been investigated. This study aimed to assess the relationship between serum UA levels, the uric acid to creatinine ratio (UA/Cr), and ICD prevalence in PwPs. Materials and Methods: We enrolled 172 PwPs hospitalized for follow-up or treatment modification. ICDs were screened with the Questionnaire for Impulsive-Compulsive Disorders in Parkinson’s Disease (QUIP). Clinical data included demographics, disease severity, motor and non-motor symptoms, and dopaminergic treatment. Fasting serum UA and UA/Cr were determined. Results: ICDs were present in 24.42% of patients, most commonly binge eating and compulsive buying. PwPs with ICDs had longer disease duration, more motor complications, higher dopaminergic doses, and more frequent dopamine agonist use. No relationship was found between absolute UA and overall ICD occurrence. However, lower UA/Cr was observed in patients with hypersexuality and pathological gambling, as well as in those with multiple ICD subtypes. Logistic regression confirmed that higher UA/Cr reduced the odds of hypersexuality (OR = 0.55; 95% CI 0.31–0.98) and multiple ICDs (OR = 0.33; 95% CI 0.13–0.84). As a secondary finding, lower absolute UA was observed in PwPs with more advanced motor symptoms, motor complications, depressive symptoms, and cognitive impairment. Conclusions: Lower UA/Cr was selectively associated with specific ICD subtypes and with the coexistence of multiple ICDs in patients with PD. UA/Cr may serve as a marker of ICD heterogeneity. Confirmation in larger, prospective cohorts is needed to establish clinical relevance. Full article

Addiction remains a persistent public health crisis, marked by poor treatment retention and limited pharmacotherapy options. Emerging treatments, such as psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy and neuromodulation, offer promising avenues for circuit-level interventions in behavioral addictions. This narrative review synthesizes the current landscape of psychedelic compounds and neuromodulation techniques with a focus on their mechanisms of action, applications in specific behavioral addictions, and translational potential. By targeting disrupted reward, executive control, and stress regulation networks, these interventions may facilitate meaningful recovery and long-term remission in otherwise treatment refractory cases. We highlight key findings, current research limitations, and future directions in integrating these novel therapies into the treatment of gambling disorder; internet gaming disorder/gaming disorder, predominantly online; internet use disorder; and compulsive sexual behavior disorder. Full article

Background/Objectives: In an increasingly pervasive digital environment, trait boredom has been identified as a key psychological factor in the onset and maintenance of problematic digital technology use. This systematic review aims to investigate the role of trait boredom in digital behavioral addictions, including problematic smartphone use, Internet and social media overuse, and gaming addiction, through theoretical models such as the I-PACE model and the Compensatory Internet Use Theory (CIUT). Methods: A systematic literature search was conducted across multiple scientific databases (PsycINFO, Web of Science, PubMed, and Scopus), yielding a total of 4603 records. Following the PRISMA guidelines after duplicate removal and screening based on title and abstract, 152 articles were assessed for full-text eligibility, and 28 studies met the predefined inclusion and exclusion criteria and were included in the final review. Results: Findings reveal that trait boredom functions as both a direct and indirect factor in problematic technology use. It serves as a mediator and moderator in the relationship between psychological vulnerabilities (e.g., depression, alexithymia, vulnerable narcissism) and dysfunctional digital behaviors. Furthermore, as an independent variable, it has an influence on technological variables through Fear of Missing Out (FoMO), loneliness, low self-regulation, and dysfunctional metacognitions, while protective factors such as mindfulness and attentional control mitigate its impact. Conclusions: Boredom represents a central psychological lever for understanding behavioral addictions in the digital age and should be considered a key target in preventive and therapeutic interventions focused on enhancing self-regulation and meaningful engagement with free time. Full article

The insular cortex has emerged as a key region implicated in a wide array of cognitive, emotional, and sensory processes. The anterior part of the insula (AIC) is central to emotional awareness, decision-making, and interoception, while the posterior insula (PIC) is more associated with somatosensory processing. The insula acts as a functional hub within the salience network and integrates homeostatic, affective, and cognitive information; thus, its role in different mental disorders seems to be prominent. Altered structure and connectivity of the insular cortex are evident in several psychiatric conditions. In schizophrenia, reductions in insular volume—especially on the left—correlate with hallucinations, emotional dysregulation, and cognitive deficits. Bipolar and major depressive disorders exhibit AIC volume loss and aberrant connectivity patterns linked to impaired affect regulation and interoceptive awareness. Anxiety disorders show functional hyperactivity of the insula, especially in response to fear-inducing stimuli, though findings on structural changes are mixed. Overall, growing evidence underscores the insular cortex’s central role in psychiatric pathophysiology and highlights its potential as a target for future diagnostic and therapeutic strategies. Full article