Daniela S S Lobo1, James L Kennedy. 1. Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, Neurogenetics Laboratory, University of Toronto, 250 College Street, R 30, Toronto, ON M5T1R8, Canada. daniela_lobo@camh.net
Abstract
AIMS: To summarize and discuss findings from genetic studies conducted on pathological gambling (PG). METHODS: Searches were conducted on PubMed and PsychInfo databases using the keywords: 'gambling and genes', 'gambling and family' and 'gambling and genetics', yielding 18 original research articles investigating the genetics of PG. RESULTS: Twin studies using the Vietnam Era Twin Registry have found that: (i) the heritability of PG is estimated to be 50-60%; (ii) PG and subclinical PG are a continuum of the same disorder; (iii) PG shares genetic vulnerability factors with antisocial behaviours, alcohol dependence and major depressive disorder; (iv) genetic factors underlie the association between exposure to traumatic life-events and PG. Molecular genetic investigations on PG are at an early stage and published studies have reported associations with genes involved in the brain's reward and impulse control systems. CONCLUSIONS: Despite the paucity of studies in this area, published studies have provided considerable evidence of the influence of genetic factors on PG and its complex interaction with other psychiatric disorders and environmental factors. The next step would be to investigate the association and interaction of these variables in larger molecular genetic studies with subphenotypes that underlie PG. Results from family and genetic investigations corroborate further the importance of understanding the biological underpinnings of PG in the development of more specific treatment and prevention strategies.
AIMS: To summarize and discuss findings from genetic studies conducted on pathological gambling (PG). METHODS: Searches were conducted on PubMed and PsychInfo databases using the keywords: 'gambling and genes', 'gambling and family' and 'gambling and genetics', yielding 18 original research articles investigating the genetics of PG. RESULTS: Twin studies using the Vietnam Era Twin Registry have found that: (i) the heritability of PG is estimated to be 50-60%; (ii) PG and subclinical PG are a continuum of the same disorder; (iii) PG shares genetic vulnerability factors with antisocial behaviours, alcohol dependence and major depressive disorder; (iv) genetic factors underlie the association between exposure to traumatic life-events and PG. Molecular genetic investigations on PG are at an early stage and published studies have reported associations with genes involved in the brain's reward and impulse control systems. CONCLUSIONS: Despite the paucity of studies in this area, published studies have provided considerable evidence of the influence of genetic factors on PG and its complex interaction with other psychiatric disorders and environmental factors. The next step would be to investigate the association and interaction of these variables in larger molecular genetic studies with subphenotypes that underlie PG. Results from family and genetic investigations corroborate further the importance of understanding the biological underpinnings of PG in the development of more specific treatment and prevention strategies.
Authors: D S S Lobo; L Aleksandrova; J Knight; D M Casey; N el-Guebaly; J N Nobrega; J L Kennedy Journal: Mol Psychiatry Date: 2014-09-30 Impact factor: 15.992
Authors: Donald W Black; William H Coryell; Raymond R Crowe; Brett McCormick; Martha C Shaw; Jeff Allen Journal: J Clin Psychiatry Date: 2014-03 Impact factor: 4.384
Authors: Jon E Grant; Murad Atmaca; Naomi A Fineberg; Leonardo F Fontenelle; Hisato Matsunaga; Y C Janardhan Reddy; Helen Blair Simpson; Per Hove Thomsen; Odile A van den Heuvel; David Veale; Douglas W Woods; Dan J Stein Journal: World Psychiatry Date: 2014-06 Impact factor: 49.548