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The Effects of Gambling Addiction on the Brain

Many people turned to online gambling during the pandemic. Most of us play gambling as a form of entertainment, which does not have any serious negative consequences, but during the pandemic some people got addicted to gambling. This type of addiction leads to mental health, cognition and relationships, as well as bankruptcy and crimes.

Unlike alcohol and drug addiction, where the symptoms are physically visible, there are no obvious signs of gambling addiction. Journal ‘The Lancet Psychiatry’, reviews the research on gambling addiction, and makes recommendations about how to prevent and treat it. Gambling is a big problem. According to the most recent estimates from the World Health Organization, as of 2016, annual gambling losses to gamblers worldwide were estimated to total $400 billion. In 2021, the UK Gambling Commission estimated the prevalence of ‘gambling disorder’ at 0.4% of the population.

Another survey found the highest rates of gambling problems in Asia, followed by Australia and North America, with lower rates in Europe. Researchers have developed game simulations (which they call ‘tasks’) to measure the problem of gambling, such as the Iowa Gambling Task and the Cantab Cambridge Gambling Task. The system assesses gamblers’ risky decision-making and betting, by asking participants to guess whether a yellow chip is hidden within a blue or red box, with a ratio of blue and red boxes over time. is changing. They can then decide how many points they have to bet on their decision.

 

If they win, they add points to their total, but if they lose, those points are lost. They are instructed to be vigilant so that they do not go ‘bankrupt’ by losing all their marks. This task can be useful to detect gamblers who have not yet developed a gambling disorder but are ‘at risk’ of developing it but have not yet – especially if they show signs of being impulsive. Using such a task, research has shown that among healthy individuals, betting is most common in people aged 17 to 27 and tends to decline as we get older.

 

Multiple Brain Regions Linked To Gambling: Study

Another study showed that gamblers with addiction problems increase their bets over time, and eventually go bankrupt. Alcohol and nicotine dependence have also been linked to greater betting problems. The Gambler’s Brain It is clear from neuroimaging studies that there are several brain regions associated with gambling. Studies have shown that important regions associated with risky decision making include the ventromedial prefrontal cortex (associated with decision-making, memory, and emotion regulation); the orbital frontal cortex (which helps the body respond to emotions); and the insula (which controls the autonomic nervous system). Gamblers prone to gambling addiction may increase activity in these areas.

When gamblers see the results of their bets, they also show brain activation in the brain’s reward system, which includes the caudate nucleus. This can be especially strong in people who are addicted to gambling. Dopamine, a so-called neurotransmitter that helps nerve cells communicate, is also known to be a key chemical in the brain’s reward system. One study also found that gamblers showed significantly higher levels of euphoria when dopamine was released in their brains than healthy people. Dopamine release exacerbates gambling problems by increasing levels of excitement, reducing inhibition of risky decisions, or a combination of both.

 

Effective in reducing aspects of depression

Currently, gambling disorder is diagnosed using the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5) published by the American Psychiatric Association. Guidelines for the treatment and management of gambling disorders are also being developed from the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence in the UK and are expected to be published in 2024. Current treatment options include certain types of cognitive behavioral therapy (which can help people change their thinking patterns) and self-help groups.

 

Certain medications, such as selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) may be effective in reducing the symptoms of gambling disorder such as aspects of depression. all psychic self

Like health problems, it is important to get help and treatment early. This is especially important so that ordinary pleasures, such as spending time with family and enjoying walks and exercise, are still enjoyable and this feeling of happiness does not become a gamble.

 

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