BACKGROUND

The functional role of dopamine D1 and D2 receptors in gambling disorder (GD) remains unclear.

AIMS

This study aimed to investigate the role of D1 activation and the moderating effects of impulsivity, a trait linked with weaker D2-mediated inhibition of dopamine release, in GD subjects.

METHODS

Thirty (nine female) non-comorbid GD subjects with low (LI), moderate (MI), or high impulsivity (HI) received the preferential D2 antagonist haloperidol (HAL; 3 mg) or the mixed D1-D2 antagonist fluphenazine (FLU; 3 mg), on separate sessions before a 15-minute slot machine game or amphetamine (AMPH; 20 mg), in a placebo-controlled, double-blind, counterbalanced design.

RESULTS

On their own, HAL and FLU led to linear increases and decreases, respectively, in desire to gamble across increasing levels of impulsivity. The slot machine and AMPH each evoked an inverted-U pattern of desire to gamble across increasing impulsivity. HAL reversed this effect of the game, whereas FLU did not alter post-game desire. HAL and FLU decreased and increased psychostimulant-like effects of the game, respectively, in LI and MI subjects, but consistently reduced these effects in HI subjects. HAL also altered the salience of negative affective words on a reading task, such that greater salience of negative words coincided with lower post-game desire to gamble.

CONCLUSIONS

D1 receptors appear to gauge the incentive value of gambling in GD subjects. D1 activation has negative reinforcing effects in HI gamblers and positive reinforcing effects in LI gamblers. Medications that activate D1 could curtail chasing in HI gamblers. D1 blockade could benefit HI gamblers whose main concern is craving.