Gambling Disorder: the new treatment investigated by the Istituto di Neuroscienze
A groundbreaking research by the Istituto di Neuroscienze in collaboration with Harvard University and funded by the National Institute of Health (NIH) paves the way for an innovative and effective treatment for pathological gambling.
The study by the Istituto di Neuroscienze ― In search of effective treatments for gambling disorder
Gambling Disorder (GD) is a significant public health concern due to its detrimental consequences for individuals and the significant social costs that result.
Also contributing greatly to the negative impact associated with this condition is the lack of FDA-approved therapies for the treatment of Gambling Disorder. Considering this, it was necessary to explore innovative interventions different from the traditional pharmacological approach.
In a recent groundbreaking study conducted by Dr. Pallanti's Istituto di Neuroscienze in collaboration with Harvard University and funded by the National Institute of Health (NIH) a novel non-pharmacological approach for treating GD has emerged: Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS).
Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS) ― An effective treatment for gambling addiction
The study conducted by the Istituto di Neuroscienze represents a significant step forward in the field of gambling addiction research, as it is the world's first controlled trial of Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS) versus a placebo condition for gambling disorder.
TMS is a non-invasive Neuromodulation Technique that targets the brain circuits involved in gambling addiction. In the study, 29 patients diagnosed with Gambling Disorder were randomly assigned to receive real or sham stimulation.
In the real stimulation group, participants received ten sessions of continuous Theta Burst Stimulation (cTBS) over the pre-SMA area of the brain, a region whose activity appears to be linked to gambling addiction.
Thanks to the results obtained from the evaluations performed before the start of the treatment and at the end of the stimulation sessions, it was possible to show that the treatment protocol used was able to significantly reduce the symptoms of gambling addiction in the group that received the actual stimulation, thus demonstrating the potential effectiveness of TMS as a treatment for gambling addiction. The assessment of changes was made possible using the PG-YBOCS scale, an evaluation tool developed by Dr. Stefano Pallanti by adapting the Yale-Brown Obsessive-Compulsive Scale on Gambling Disorder.
A breakthrough in the treatment of gambling addiction
The study conducted by the Istituto di Neuroscienze in collaboration with Harvard University marks a milestone in gambling addiction research. Indeed, TMS has proven to be an effective approach to address one of the primary dimensions of pathological gambling: the uncontrollable desire to gamble (craving).
In a context where there are no FDA-approved therapies for the treatment of Gambling Disorder, the breakthrough discovery achieved by the Istituto di Neuroscienze's research represents a revolutionary advance and offers new hope for all those struggling with gambling addiction.
This study thus paves the way for a promising new treatment method for Gambling Disorder, a condition that continues to have a significant impact on the lives of affected individuals, their families, and society as a whole.
International recognition of the study
The significance of this study conducted by the Istituto di Neuroscienze is further highlighted by the fact that it was funded by the National Institute of Health (NIH) with a rare and prestigious NIMH Grant, a rare and prestigious award that seldom occurs outside the United States.
Moreover, this research is the result of a significant collaboration between the Istituto di Neuroscienze and Harvard University and has been published in a high-impact journal with an H-index exceeding 11, confirming the importance of the findings.
