The Role of ADHD Symptomatology and Emotion Dysregulation in Gambling Disorder

Gemma Mestre-Bach, Trevor Steward, Marc N. Potenza, Roser Granero, Fernando Fernández-Aranda, Teresa Mena-Moreno, Pablo Magaña, Cristina Vintró-Alcaraz, Amparo del Pino-Gutiérrez, José M. Menchón, Susana Jiménez-Murcia*

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticleResearchpeer-review

19 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Objectives: Although emotion regulation deficits have been implicated in gambling disorder and ADHD, the interplay between these factors has yet to be systematically studied. We examined relationships between ADHD symptoms, emotion regulation, and gambling disorder severity in a sample of treatment-seeking gambling disorder patients (n = 98). We also examined clinical differences between patients with and without ADHD symptomatology. Method: Structural equation modeling (SEM) evaluated direct and indirect effects of ADHD and emotion regulation on gambling disorder severity. Results: Significant correlations between ADHD symptomatology and emotion regulation and between emotion regulation and gambling disorder severity were identified. Differences in emotion regulation were found between gambling disorder patients with and without ADHD symptomatology. Path analysis revealed emotion regulation to be a mediator between ADHD and gambling disorder. Conclusion: Our findings indicate the presence of ADHD symptomatology to be associated with greater severity of gambling disorder and greater emotional dysregulation.

Original languageAmerican English
JournalJournal of Attention Disorders
DOIs
Publication statusAccepted in press - 2019

Keywords

  • ADHD
  • emotion regulation
  • gambling disorder
  • severity

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