A COMPARISON OF PATHOLOGICAL GAMBLERS TO ALCOHOLICS AND COCAINE MISUSERS ON IMPULSIVITY, SENSATION SEEKING, AND CRAVING

Consecutive admissions (N = 843) to the Brecksville Veterans Addiction Recovery Center with a primary diagnosis of pathological gambler, alc oholic, or cocaine misuser were compared for differences on impulsivit y, sensation seeking, and craving. In contrast to alcoholics and cocai ne misusers, gamblers scored significantly higher on impulsivity and i nability to resist craving; however, gamblers were not significantly h igher than either alcoholics or cocaine misusers on sensation seeking. These findings suggest a need to address high impulsivity and inabili ty to resist cravings in treatment and relapse prevention for gamblers .