Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Genetics of Pathological Gambling

  • Published:
Journal of Gambling Studies Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Pathological gambling (PG) is an impulse control disorder and a model ‘behavioral’ addiction. Familial factors have been observed in clinical studies of pathological gamblers, and twin studies have demonstrated a genetic influence contributing to the development of PG. Serotonergic, noradrenergic, and dopaminergic dysfunction have been reported as biological factors contributing to the pathophysiology of PG. Molecular genetic techniques have been used to investigate the role of genetic factors in PG. Molecular genetic research has identified specific allele variants of candidate genes corresponding to these neurotransmitter systems to be associated with PG. Associations have been reported between pathological gamblers and allele variants of polymorphisms at dopamine receptor genes, the serotonin transporter gene, and the monoamine-oxidase A gene. Although preliminary data suggest that some of these differences are gender-specific, more research needs to be performed to substantiate gender-specific genetic contributions to the development of pathological gambling. The review of the current findings on genetics of PG suggests that liability to PG is in part mediated by genetic factors. Additional studies are needed to replicate and extend these findings, as well as to better understand the influence of specific allelic variants to differences in biological and behavioral functioning.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • American Psychiatric Association. (1980). Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Third Edition. Washington, D.C.; American Psychiatric Association.

    Google Scholar 

  • American Psychiatric Association. (2000). Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fourth Edition, Text-Revision. Washington, DC; American Psychiatric Association.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bergh C., Eklund T., Sodersten P., Nordin C. (1997). Altered dopamine function in pathological gambling. Psychological Medicine; 27(2): 473-475.

    Google Scholar 

  • Blanco C., Oresanz-Muñoz L., Blanco-Jerez C., Sáiz-Ruiz J. (1996). Pathological gambling and platelet MAO activity: A psychobiological study. The American Journal of Psychiatry; 153: 119-121.

    Google Scholar 

  • Blanco C., Ibáñez A., Sáiz-Ruiz J., Blanco-Jerez C., Nunes E. V. (2000). Epidemiology, Pathophysiology and Treatment of Pathological Gambling. CNS Drugs; 13(6): 397-407.

    Google Scholar 

  • Blanco C., Moreyra P., Nunes E. V., Sáiz-Ruiz J., Ibáñez A. (2001). Pathological Gambling: Addiction or Compulsión?. Seminars in Clinical Neuropsychiatry, 6(3): 167-176.

    Google Scholar 

  • Blum K., Sheridan P. J., Wood R. C., Braverman E. R., Chen T. J., Comings D. E. (1995). Dopamine D2 receptor gene variants: Association and linkage studies in impulsive-addictive-compulsive behaviour. Pharmacogenetics; 5: 121-141.

    Google Scholar 

  • Carrasco J. L., Sáiz-Ruiz J., Hollander E., Cesar J., Lopez-Ibor J. J. Jr. (1994). Low platelet monoamine oxidase activity in pathological gambling. Acta Psychiatr Scand; 90: 427-431.

    Google Scholar 

  • Comings D. E., Rosenthal R. J., Lesieur H. R., et al. (1996) A study of the dopamine D2 receptor gene in pathological gambling. Pharmacogenetics; 6: 223-234.

    Google Scholar 

  • Comings D. E., Gade R., Wu S., et al. (1997). Studies of the potential role of the dopamine D1 receptor gene in addictive behaviors. Molecular Psychiatry; 2: 44-56.

    Google Scholar 

  • DeCaria C. M., Hollander E., Grossman R., Wong C. M., Mosovich S. A., Cherkasky S. (1996). Diagnosis, Neurobiology and Treatment of Pathological Gambling. The Journal of Clinical Psychiatry; 57 (suppl 8): 80-84.

    Google Scholar 

  • DeCaria C., Hollander E., Nora R., Stein D., Simeon D., Cohen I. (1997). Gambling: Biological/genetic, treatment, government, and gambling concerns: Neurobiology of pathological gambling. Presented at the American Psychiatric Association Annual Meeting May, 1997; San Diego, CA.

  • Eisen S. A., Lin N., Lyons M. J., et al. (1998). Familial influences on gambling behavior: An analysis of 3359 twin pairs. Addiction; 93(9): 1375-1384.

    Google Scholar 

  • Eisen S. A., Slutske W. S., Lyons M. J., et al. (2001). The Genetics of Pathological Gambling. Seminars in Clinical Neuropsychiatry, 6(3): 195-204.

    Google Scholar 

  • Faraone S. V., Tsuang M. T., Tsuang D. W. (1999). Genetics of Mental Disorders. New York: The Guilford Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Gambino B., Fitzgerald R., Shaffer H. J., et al. (1993). Perceived family history of problem gambling and scores on SOGS. Journal of Gambling Studies, 9: 169-184.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ibáñez A., Saiz J. (2000). La ludopatía: una “nueva” enfermedad. Barcelona: Masson, S. A.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ibáñez A., Blanco C., Moreyra P., Sáiz-Ruiz J. (2002). Gender differences in Pathological Gambling. The Journal of Clinical Psychiatry (in press).

  • Ibáñez A., Pérez de Castro I., Fernández-Piqueras J., Sáiz-Ruiz J. (1998) Sex differences in pathological gambling genetic contribution. American Journal of Medical Genetics; 81(6): 523.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ibáñez A., Pérez de Castro I., Fernández-Piqueras J., Sáiz-Ruiz J. (1999). Tyrosine hydroxylase gene and pathological gambling: An association study. Molecular Psychiatry; 4(Suppl 1): S108-S109.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ibañez A., Perez de Castro I., Fernandez-Piqueras J., Blanco C., Saiz-Ruiz J. (2000a). Genetic association study between pathological gambling and DNA polymorphic markers at MAO-A and MAO-B genes. Molecular Psychiatry; 20: 105-109.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ibáñez A., Pérez de Castro I., Fernández-Piqueras J., Sáiz-Ruiz J. (2000b). Association between the low-functional MAO-A gene promoter and pathological gambling. American Journal of Medical Genetics; 96(4): 464-465.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ibáñez A., Blanco C., Donahue E., Lesieur, H. R. de Castro, I. P., Fernandez-Piqueras, J., and Sáiz-Ruiz, J. (2001). Psychiatric Comorbidity in Pathological Gamblers Seeking Treatment. The American Journal of Psychiatry; 158: 1733-1735.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ibáñez A., Blanco C., Saiz-Ruiz J. (2002a). Neurobiology and Genetics of Pathological Gambling. Psychiatric Annals; 32(3): 181-185.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lesieur H. R. The female pathological gambler. In: Eadington W. R. Ed. Gambling Research (Vol. 5). Bureau of Business & Economic Research, University of Nevada, Reno, 1988.

  • Lesieur H. R., Blume S. B. (1987). The South Oaks Gambling Screen (SOGS): a new instrument for the identification of pathological gamblers. The American Journal of Psychiatry; 144(9): 1184-1188.

    Google Scholar 

  • Moreno I., Saiz-Ruiz J., López-Ibor J. J. (1991). Serotonin and gambling dependence. Human Psychopharmacology; 6: S9-S12.

    Google Scholar 

  • Perez de Castro I., Ibañez A., Torres P., Saiz-Ruiz J., Fernandez-Piqueras J. (1997). Genetic association study between pathological gambling and a functional DNA polymorphism at the D4 receptor. Pharmacogenetics; 7: 345-348.

    Google Scholar 

  • Pérez de Castro I., Ibáñez A., Sáiz-Ruiz J., Fernández-Piqueras J. (1999). Genetic contribution to pathological gambling: Association between a functional DNA polymorphism at the serotonin transporter gene (5-HTT) and affected males. Pharmacogenetics; 9: 397-400.

    Google Scholar 

  • Pérez de Castro I., Ibáñez A., Saiz-Ruiz J., Fernández-Piqueras J. (2002). “Concurrent positive association between Pathological Gambling and functional DNA polymorphisms at the MAO-A and the 5-HT transporter genes.” Molecular Psychiatry (in press).

  • Potenza M. N. (2001). The neurobiology of pathological gambling. Seminars in Clinical Neuropsychiatry; 6(3): 217-226.

    Google Scholar 

  • Potenza M. N., Kosten T. R., Rounsaville B. J. (2001). Pathological gambling. JAMA; 286: 141-144.

    Google Scholar 

  • Roy A., Adinoff B., Roehrich L. et al. (1988). Pathological gambling: A psychobiological study. Archives of General Psychiatry; 45: 369-373.

    Google Scholar 

  • Slutske W. S., Eisen S., True W. R., Lyons M. J., Goldberg J., Tsuang M. (2000). Archives of General Psychiatry; 57(7): 666-673.

    Google Scholar 

  • Slutske W. S., Eisen S., Xian H., True W. R., Lyons M. J., Goldberg J., Tsuang M. (2001). A twin study of the relationship between pathological gambling and antisocial personality disorder. Journal of Abnormal Psychology; 110(2): 297-308.

    Google Scholar 

  • Sullivan P. F., Eaves L. J., Kendler K. S., Neale M. C. (2001). Genetic Case-Control Association Studies in Neuropsychiatry. Archives of General Psychiatry; 58: 1015-1024.

    Google Scholar 

  • Westlund K. N., Krakower T. J., Kwan S. W., Abell C. W. (1993). Intracellular distribution of monoamine oxidase-A in selected regions of rat and monkey brain and spinal cord. Brain Research; 612: 221-230.

    Google Scholar 

  • Winters K. C., Rich T. (1999). A twin study of adult gambling behavior. Journal of Gambling Studies; 14: 213-225.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Psychiatry, Hospital Ramón y Cajal, Alcala University, Crta. Colmenar km. 9,1, 28034, Madrid, Spain

    Angela Ibáñez

  2. Columbia University and New York State Psychiatric Institute, USA

    Carlos Blanco

  3. Autonoma University, Madrid

    Ignacio Perez de Castro & Jose Fernandez-Piqueras

  4. University of Alcala, Madrid

    Jeronimo Sáiz-Ruiz

Authors
  1. Angela Ibáñez
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Carlos Blanco
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Ignacio Perez de Castro
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Jose Fernandez-Piqueras
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Jeronimo Sáiz-Ruiz
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Ibáñez, A., Blanco, C., Perez de Castro, I. et al. Genetics of Pathological Gambling. J Gambl Stud 19, 11–22 (2003). https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1021271029163

Download citation

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1021271029163

Search

Navigation