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Inhibitory Control in Gambling Disorder, Internet Gaming Disorder, and Compulsive Sexual Behavior Disorder/Problematic Pornography Use: a Review of the Last 5 Years

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Abstract

Purpose of Review

To explore what has been published in the last 5 years on inhibitory control in gambling disorder (GD), internet gaming disorder (IGD), and compulsive sexual behavior disorder/problematic pornography use (CSBD/PPU).

Recent Findings

Inhibitory control is a component of executive function which involves managing automatic or irrelevant responses for goal-directed behavior. It has been typically assessed using tasks such as the Stroop, go/no-go, and stop-signal tasks. Inhibitory control has relevance across various mental disorders, and this narrative review focuses on behavioral addictions, specifically GD, IGD, and CSBD/PPU. Recent research on inhibitory control in people with GD has showed mixed results, with some studies indicating impaired inhibitory control during performance of Stroop and go/no-go tasks, while others have not found such differences, particularly during stop-signal task performance. Similarly, studies of inhibitory control in people with IGD also present varied findings, with some studies suggesting impaired inhibitory control, while others reporting no significant differences between individuals with and without IGD. Seemingly heterogeneous results have also been reported for CSBD/PPU.

Summary

This heterogeneity in findings may reflect various limitations of existing studies, as well as the complexity of the inhibitory control construct. More studies are needed to determine the specific role of this potential transdiagnostic factor in these behavioral addictions.

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Data Availability

No datasets were generated or analyzed during the current study.

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Funding

Dr. Potenza’s involvement was supported by the Connecticut Council on Problem Gambling and Children and Screens. This study was supported by the ITEI B23-010 project (Universidad Internacional de La Rioja) and the Ministerio de Consumo (SUBV23/00024).

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Instituto de Investigación, Transferencia e Innovación, Universidad Internacional de la Rioja, La Rioja, Spain

    Gemma Mestre-Bach

  2. Department of Psychiatry, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA

    Marc N. Potenza

  3. Child Study Center, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA

    Marc N. Potenza

  4. Connecticut Mental Health Center, New Haven, CT, USA

    Marc N. Potenza

  5. Connecticut Council on Problem Gambling, Wethersfield, CT, USA

    Marc N. Potenza

  6. Department of Neuroscience, Yale University, New Haven, CT, USA

    Marc N. Potenza

  7. Wu Tsai Institute, Yale University, New Haven, CT, USA

    Marc N. Potenza

Authors
  1. Gemma Mestre-Bach
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G.M. and M.P. wrote the main manuscript text. All authors reviewed the manuscript.

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Correspondence to Marc N. Potenza.

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Mestre-Bach, G., Potenza, M.N. Inhibitory Control in Gambling Disorder, Internet Gaming Disorder, and Compulsive Sexual Behavior Disorder/Problematic Pornography Use: a Review of the Last 5 Years. Curr Behav Neurosci Rep (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40473-024-00272-z

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