General Article Gambling: what happens in the brain when we get hooked – and how to regain control

Topic Selected: Gambling Book Volume: 420

Gambling: what happens in the brain when we get hooked – and how to regain control

The brains of gambling addicts activate in specific ways. GoodIdeas/Shutterstock

Barbara Jacquelyn Sahakian, University of Cambridge; Christelle Langley, University of Cambridge; Henrietta Bowden-Jones, University of Cambridge, and Sam Chamberlain, University of Southampton

Many people turned to online gambling during the pandemic. And while a large proportion of us are able to gamble recreationally, without serious negative impact, the pandemic has led to a rise in gambling addictions. In the UK, for example, we’ve seen the biggest increase in women seeking help ever. Such addiction can lead to problems with mental health, cognition and relationships, as well as leading to bankruptcy and criminality.

Unlike alcohol and drug addiction, where the symptoms are physically noticeable, gambling addiction creates less obvious signs. Our new article, published in The Lancet Psychiatry, reviews research on ...

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