- PGD persist in useless control attempts during uncontrollable long ROAT, despite emotional distress, showing split between negative emotions and behaviour.
- Across participants, perceived control during both long ROATs was predicted by positive emotional experience.
- In no-solution ROAT, PGD perceived control correlated with number of control attempts; overall PGD reported lower perceived control than HC.
Braz J Psychiatry. 2026 Jul 30. doi: 10.47626/1516-4446-2026-4928. Online ahead of print.
ABSTRACT
INTRODUCTION: Gambling Disorder is characterized by persistent betting despite financial losses and social adversities. Previous studies demonstrated that during short response-outcome analytical tests (ROAT), people with gambling disorder (PGD) presented more random responses and less use of analytical strategies on ROAT with and without a solution.
OBJECTIVE: Evaluate the predisposition of PGD to illusion of control and superstitious behavior in longer ROAT versions.
METHOD: 34 PGD to 34 Healthy Controls (HC) are compared, regarding emotional and cognitive responses, and behavioral performance.
RESULTS: For the whole sample, perception of control while taking both long ROAT versions was predicted by a positive emotional experience. Particularly for the ROAT version without a solution, perception of control was associated with total attempts at controlling the aversive stimulus for PGD. Compared to HC, PGD found both ROAT versions more emotionally distressing, reported a lower perception of control, and presented more attempts at control in the uncontrollable ROAT version.
CONCLUSION: In comparison to HC, PGD insisted more on useless behaviors in tasks with no rewards and despite emotional discomfort, evidencing a splitting between negative emotions and behavioral response.
PMID:42531573 | DOI:10.47626/1516-4446-2026-4928
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