LOW PLATELET MONOAMINE-OXIDASE ACTIVITY IN PATHOLOGICAL GAMBLING

Decreased platelet monoamine oxidase (MAO) activity has been reported in association with sensation-seeking personality type and in some men tal disorders associated with a lack of impulse control. Pathological gambling itself has been related with both sensation-seeking and reduc ed impulse control. Platelet MAO activity was investigated in 15 DSM-I II-R pathological gamblers from our outpatient clinic. Gamblers had a significantly lower platelet MAO activity than a group of 25 healthy c ontrols. The range of MAO levels in gamblers was also significantly sh orter than in controls. In controls, platelet MAO levels showed the pr eviously described negative correlations with sensation-seeking scores but not in gamblers. The findings are consistent with previous studie s showing an association of low platelet MAO activity with impulse con trol disorders and raise some interesting therapeutic alternatives for pathological gambling.