Problem Gambling Likely Inherited

Vidcast:  https://youtu.be/0y7m2BjiOPI

Brothers and sisters of compulsive gamblers share impulsivity and dangerous risk-taking with their troubled sibs.  University of British Columbia psychologists report these findings after studying 20 gamblers and 16 of their siblings.

All participants underwent cognitive testing, MRI brain imaging, and surveys.  Both gamblers and their sibs acted irresponsibly when under stress.   The non-gambler sibs tended to be impulsive at baseline and took even greater risks, comparable to long-shot bets, when under pressure at work or at home.

If your brother or sister has a gambling issue, be on the lookout for possible self-destructive behavior in yourself.  Don’t be hesitant to seek professional help if you find your own risky behaviors unsettling.

Eve H. Limbrick-Oldfield, Inge Mick, Rachel E. Cocks, Remy S. A. Flechais, Samuel Turton, Anne Lingford-Hughes, Henrietta Bowden-Jones, Luke Clark. Neural and neurocognitive markers of vulnerability to gambling disorder: a study of unaffected siblings. Neuropsychopharmacology, 2019; DOI: 10.1038/s41386-019-0534-1

#Gambling #familial #inherited #impulsivity