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.
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