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Biomedical subjects

M Dickerson

Publications and source records attributed to M Dickerson.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2001

Induced mood and persistence at gaming.

AIMS: Using the affect infusion model (AIM), this study aimed to assess the impact of prior mood on gaming persistence in regular and non-regular gamblers (assumed to be motivated and heuristic decision-makers, respectively). DESIGN, MEASURES AND SETTING: A 2 x 3 experimental design in a laboratory setting employed factors of gambler type (regular, non-regular) and prior mood (happy, neutral, depressed). Measures were number of trials played on a gambling game, and mood ratings (post-mood induction, during and after play). PARTICIPANTS AND INTERVENTIONS: Sixty regular and 60 non-regular gamblers (all male students) were assigned randomly to watch a video inducing one of the three mood conditions. They were then given AUD$10.00 to gamble in a computerized card-cutting game. FINDINGS: AIM predictions were supported: prior mood did not affect gaming persistence for regular gamblers, but non-regulars showed reduced persistence across happy, neutral and depressed moods. After-play mood ratings were related to winnings for regulars, and losing regulars were significantly more unhappy after-play compared to during-play, and compared to both their winning counterparts and non-regulars. Mood and winnings were unrelated for non-regulars, with little during- to after-play mood change. CONCLUSIONS: The findings speak to depression as a causal factor in addictive gambling. Depressed mood did not enhance persistence in regular gamblers, but rather failed to have the inhibitory effect observed in non-regular gamblers. Evidence of mood changes during gambling was obtained, although multiple measures (self-report, physiological indicators, anticipated states) of both affective valence and arousal are advocated for future studies.

Adult↗
PubMed2000

Females' coping styles and control over poker machine gambling.

An investigation of the relationship between impaired control over gambling, coping strategies, and demographic variables was conducted by surveying female poker machine players (N = 163) in their gaming venues. Metropolitan (n = 14) and regional (n = 6) gaming venues in Victoria, Australia participated. Control over gambling was measured using the Impaired Control Over Gambling Scale (Baron & Dickerson, 1994). Coping strategies were measured using (Folkman et al., 1986) adaptation of the Revised Ways of Coping Checklist (Vitaliano et al., 1985). MANOVA supported the hypothesis that the lower the control over gambling the greater the reliance on emotion-focused coping (blamed self, wishful thinking, avoidance) with F = 9.92, 13.35, 14.04 respectively, all significant at p <.001. MANOVA failed to supported the hypothesis that problem-focused strategies (problem focus, seek social support) would be significantly related to control over gambling with F =.82 and.21 respectively. Control over gambling was not related to age, employment, relationship status, education, or distress from significant life events, further supporting the relationship between control and coping strategies. Ways in which coping styles might be related to pathological gambling are discussed.

Journal Article↗
PubMed2000

Contemporary issues and future directions for research into pathological gambling.

The recent healthy increase in research into all aspects of gambling is noted. The dominant theme accounting for most of this research is the mental disorder model of pathological gambling and measures that have been derived from this conceptualization. It is suggested that an alternative approach focusing on the construct of choice or subjective control over gambling may be a research direction that will ensure that progress is maintained. In this paper a context for the discussion is provided by first identifying briefly fundamental conceptual and methodological issues associated with the mental disorder model. In particular it is argued that the heterogeneity of the diagnosis of pathological gambling makes the research task of assessing truly independent variables extremely difficult. Subsequently an illustrative schema is presented that demonstrates both the potential advantages and some of the complexities associated with the dependent variable of self-control over gambling behaviour. The main advantages are argued to be (a) the focus of research is narrowed to one potential cause of harmful impacts rather than the great diversity of impacts themselves, (b) prospective studies of regular gamblers in real gambling venues may be a key source of insight into the development of pathological gambling and (c) it promotes the development of theoretical links with the mainstream of the discipline of psychology. Despite the conceptual difficulties that may be associated with the variable of self-control, it is suggested that these may be overcome because contemporary research into the addictive behaviours has demonstrated considerable success in the definition and measurement of control and related themes such as craving, restraint and temptation.

Female↗
PubMed1999

An experimental study of the effect of prior alcohol consumption on a simulated gambling activity.

UNLABELLED: Previous survey research with both clinical populations and random samples of the general population has established that individuals may experience harmful impacts arising from both their gambling and their consumption of alcohol. Experimental study of the interaction of alcohol consumption on gambling is notable for its absence from the literature. AIM: To experimentally study the interaction of alcohol consumption and gambling behaviour. DESIGN: Participants were randomly allocated into two groups--placebo administered and alcohol administered, thus making an independent samples experimental design. SETTING: Laboratory. PARTICIPANTS: Forty young, male, regular EGM players, who also regularly consumed alcohol. MEASUREMENTS: The NEO Personality Inventory; The Scale of Gambling Choices (Revised) (SGC); persistence at gambling while losing, as measured by the number of gambling trials played and amount wagered. FINDINGS: Subjects either received a prior intake of three alcoholic drinks each containing approximately 10 g of pure alcohol (beer or wine) or an equal volume of an equivalent non-alcoholic beverage. The alcohol group persisted for twice as many gaming trials as the placebo group with significantly more players who had consumed alcohol losing all their original cash stake (50% compared with 15% of the placebo group). CONCLUSIONS: The consumption of alcohol appeared to eliminate the strong associations found in placebo group between individual difference measures and persistence. The analogue game was accepted by participants as a valid form of gambling. The result showed that relatively small quantities of alcohol have a significant effect on the psychological processes that underpin self-control over gambling. This finding challenges the conceptual research paradigm of studying co-morbidity or dual-addicted clinical populations as the most appropriate method of understanding how two addictive behaviours interact.

Adult↗
PubMed1995

The Harlem family model: a unique approach to the treatment of tuberculosis.

With the increased incidence of tuberculosis and especially of resistant cases in the United States, directly observed therapy as a mechanism for ensuring completion of therapy has been advocated. This mechanism has been primarily pioneered and utilized in developing countries. Few models have been tailored to specific patient populations in this country. At Harlem Hospital, in recognition of the special needs and characteristics of our patients with tuberculosis, we have developed a unique program. This program revolves around a family model with all components of the program contributing to the cohesiveness of all the program participants and staff. In the brief period since its inception, the program has been successful in enrolling and retaining a large number of patients with tuberculosis.

Ambulatory Care↗
PubMed1992

On the determinants of persistent gambling behaviour. I. High-frequency poker machine players.

Persistent gambling was studied as a function of the reinforcement of arousal and winning during normal poker machine playing sessions. Play rate, heart rate, winnings, subjective excitement and expectations of winning were recorded for five male and five female high-frequency players. Autoregressive regression analysis indicated that wins affect play rate for up to three minutes, while effects of the other variables were inconsistent. Markov chain analysis confirmed that wins smaller than 50 credits tend to elevate play rate, while larger wins cause a breakdown in the otherwise very regular rate of play. Results are discussed in relation to the development of impaired control of gambling behaviour.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1992

Pharmacologic activity of CI-977, a selective kappa opioid agonist, in rhesus monkeys.

CI-977 is a selective, nonpeptide kappa opioid agonist. In rhesus monkeys, CI-977 is a potent antinociceptive agent against thermal stimuli after i.m. administration. Increasing the intensity of the nociceptive stimulus can reduce the analgesic activity of CI-977. Antinociceptive activity also was seen when PD 126212, containing CI-977 as the (-)-enantiomer, was administered sublingually. Naloxone antagonized the antinociceptive action of CI-977, demonstrating opiate receptor involvement in this activity. Monkeys treated with CI-977 also showed sedation at doses close to those required to produce antinociception. As with morphine, the sedative properties of CI-977 were associated with impaired cognitive performance. Aged monkeys appeared more sensitive than young monkeys to the performance-impairing effect of CI-977. Tolerance developed to the antinociceptive and response-suppressing effects. CI-977 was approximately 1000 times more potent than morphine as an analgesic when tested against a moderate (50 degrees C) thermal stimulus but less effective than morphine against a strong (55 degrees C) thermal stimulus.

Animals↗
PubMed1991

On the determinants of persistent gambling. III. Personality, prior mood, and poker machine play.

Sixty-four poker machine players were observed in the ecologically valid setting of their social club while completing a session of play. Subjects were assessed by interview, the Profile of Mood States, and personality measures. Personality scores did not predict level of involvement in gambling, session duration, or persistence when losing. High-frequency players were generally more predictable than other players, with over 70% of the variance of session duration accounted for by predictor variables. Also for this group of players, persistence when losing was significantly accounted for by prior mood and cognitions concerning win size.

Adult↗
PubMed1990

Gambling: the psychology of a non-drug compulsion.

In 1968 an editorial in the British Medical Journal rejected the view that compulsive or pathological gambling should be included under the rubric of illness. Exactly 20 years later an invited paper to the same journal noted that the problem was an addictive behaviour or dependency disorder and listed the American Psychiatric Association's diagnostic criteria. The following review critically evaluates some of the key conceptual and research developments during the intervening period.

Journal Article↗
PubMed1989

Gamblers' self-perceptions of the determinants of impaired control.

Impaired control occupies a focal position in the medical model perspective of pathological gambling and is central to the concept of addictive processes generally. Nonetheless there have been few studies on self-control in gambling behaviour. A questionnaire was developed to measure subjectively assessed self-control in poker machine players. This Self-Control Scale comprised a framework adopted from Cameron (1985) distinguishing between (i) the likelihood of starting a session and continuing a session, and (ii) internal and external determinants. The Scale and a descriptive questionnaire on demographics and actual gambling behaviour was administered to 26 problem gamblers and 40 players of different levels of involvement. The results indicated that the Scale had acceptable internal consistency and validity. The Scale effectively discriminated between problem and non-problem players. The differences on specific items between low-frequency, high-frequency and problem groups were incorporated into a hypothetical developmental progression. Negative emotions such as frustration and depression and the belief in chasing (Lesieur, 1979, 1984) were perceived to be the most significant determinants of impaired control problem gamblers.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1987

Intrusive unwanted thoughts: a two-stage model of control.

It was proposed that the greater time taken to dismiss intrusive compared with neutral thoughts is better explained in terms of a decreased ability to disattend to the intrusive thought than a decreased ability to access a more pleasant replacement thought. A study of 43 subjects with 'normal obsessions' using a methodology that controlled the valence and content of replacement thoughts provided support for this disattention hypothesis.

Adolescent↗