An exploratory study of the role played by hedonic dysregulation in gambling disorder

Research has demonstrated that individuals suffering from Gambling Disorder (GD) are characterized by abnormal responses to pleasant stimuli and a proneness to act rashly in response to positive emotions. However, psychological impairments that may explain these results remain unexplored. This study tests the hypothesis that individuals with GD would show impairments in the capacity to appreciate positive emotions. The South Oaks Gambling Screen (SOGS), the Impulsive Behavior Scale Short Form (UPPS-P) and the Ways of Savoring Checklist (WOSC) were administered to clinical sample (n = 87) and to controls (n = 99). Scores of the clinical sample significantly differed from scores obtained by controls on some subscales of the WOSC (Comparing and Killjoy Thinking) and the UPPS-P. The proneness to act rashly in response to positive emotions and the capacity to appreciate positive emotional states emerged as predictors of GD’s severity. Findings support previous data showing a role played by the emotional facets of impulsivity in GD and suggest that individuals suffering from GD may experience dysfunctions in the capacity to appreciate positive emotions. This study suggests that individuals suffering from GD may fail to normally appreciate positive emotional states because of abnormalities in the savoring capacities.