Striatal dopamine D2/D3 receptor binding in pathological gambling is correlated with mood-related impulsivity

• Published in: NeuroImage (Orlando, Fla.) Fla.), 2012-10, Vol.63 (1), p.40-46
• Main Authors: Clark, Luke, Stokes, Paul R., Wu, Kit, Michalczuk, Rosanna, Benecke, Aaf, Watson, Ben J., Egerton, Alice, Piccini, Paola, Nutt, David J., Bowden-Jones, Henrietta, Lingford-Hughes, Anne R.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Addiction; Addictions; Adult; Affect; Age; Corpus Striatum - diagnostic imaging; Corpus Striatum - physiopathology; Dopamine; Female; Gambling; Gambling - diagnostic imaging; Gambling - physiopathology; Humans; Impulsive Behavior; Impulsivity; Male; Middle Aged; Neuroimaging; Neurosciences; Parkinson's disease; Positron-Emission Tomography - methods; Psychopharmacology; Receptors, Dopamine D2 - metabolism; Receptors, Dopamine D3 - metabolism; Statistics as Topic; Striatum; Studies; Substance abuse treatment
• ISSN: 1053-8119; 1095-9572; 1095-9572
• DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroimage.2012.06.067

Pathological gambling (PG) is a behavioural addiction associated with elevated impulsivity and suspected dopamine dysregulation. Reduced striatal dopamine D2/D3 receptor availability has been reported in drug addiction, and may constitute a premorbid vulnerability marker for addictive disorders. The aim of the present study was to assess striatal dopamine D2/D3 receptor availability in PG, and its association with trait impulsivity. Males with PG (n=9) and male healthy controls (n=9) underwent [11C]-raclopride positron emission tomography imaging and completed the UPPS-P impulsivity scale. There was no significant difference between groups in striatal dopamine D2/D3 receptor availability, in contrast to previous reports in drug addiction. However, mood-related impulsivity (‘Urgency’) was negatively correlated with [11C]-raclopride binding potentials in the PG group. The absence of a group difference in striatal dopamine binding implies a distinction between behavioural addictions and drug addictions. Nevertheless, our data indicate heterogeneity in dopamine receptor availability in disordered gambling, such that individuals with high mood-related impulsivity may show differential benefits from dopamine-based medications. ► Assessed 11C-raclopride binding in pathological gambling, a putative behavioral addiction. ► No group difference in striatal dopamine binding from healthy controls. ► Dopamine binding negatively correlated with mood-related impulsivity (‘Urgency’).