Las bases nerubiológicas del juego patológico

Abstract

Pathological gambling (PG) was first introduced as a diagnostic category in international classifications of mental disorders in DSM-III (APA, 1980). Until recently, research examining the biological bases of PG has been relatively scarce. Nevertheless, several theories have been forworded and several lines of research have been followed that identify various neurotransmitters in the pathology: PG as un impulse control disorder and serotonin; PG, arousal and sensation seeking involving noradrenaline; PG as an addiction and dopamine. Furthermore, familial factors have been shown to influence the development of pathological gambling suggesting
the involvement of a genetic component in the disorder. Current research focuses on molecular genetics in order to identify genetic factors of susceptibility that might contribute to the etiology of the disorder.