Faites vos jeux anouveau: Still another look at sensation seeking and pathological gambling

This is a response to a critique of the role of sensation seeking in pathological gambling (PG) by Hammelstein (2004). In studies comparing pathological gamblers in treatment programs with controls most studies have shown no difference with control groups or even lower SSS scores in the pathological gamblers. However in most studies of gamblers in the community sensation seeking has been related to the characteristics of PG including high frequency of gambling, size of bets and expenditures on gambling, reported loss of control and the pattern of “chasing” (good money after bad). The failure to find differences using gamblers in programs may be due to the effect of the program on self-reported desire to take risks and need for excitement, or to a selective effect based on personality differences between those pathological gamblers who actually seek treatment compared to those who do not. These are like differences between two types of alcoholics and drug users. Furthermore sensation seeking is related to specific types of gambling activities and variety of activities. Hammelstein suggests that independent measures of impulsivity, novelty, and intensity seeking should be used but these can be measured with subscales of the standard SS measures.