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Copyright 2006 by the American Psychological Association Heart Rate Increase to Alcohol Administration and Video Lottery Terminal Play Among Probable Pathological Gamblers and Pamela Collins, Shondalee Eisnor, and Michael Ellery The authors examined heart-rate responses to alcohol consumption and video lottery terminal (VLT)play. Regular VLT players (30 probable pathological gamblers [PPGs]; 30 nonpathological gamblers[NPGs]) were randomized to an alcohol (mean postdrinking blood alcohol concentration ϭ 0.056%) orplacebo condition. Heart rate was recorded at pre- and postdrinking baselines and during VLT play.
Consistent with an earlier study (S. H. Stewart, P. Collins, J. R. Blackburn, M. Ellery, & R. Klein, 2005),alcohol-condition participants displayed elevated heart rates relative to placebo-condition participantsonly at postdrinking and VLT play. Moreover, alcohol-condition participants showed a greater heart rateincrease to VLT play than did placebo-condition participants. However, PPGs were not more susceptibleto alcohol- and/or VLT play-induced heart rate accelerations than were NPGs. Implications for gambling/alcohol-disorder comorbidity are discussed.
Keywords: heart rate, alcohol, gambling, video lottery terminals, comorbidity Many studies suggest elevated rates of alcohol use disorders (VLT) play condition chose to purchase alcoholic beverages dur- among those with pathological gambling disorders and vice versa ing play as compared with only 40% of those regular gamblers (Crockford & el-Guebaly, 1998; Stewart & Kushner, 2003). For assigned to a control activity (Stewart et al., 2002). There are example, Kausch (2003) found that 66% of those with disordered several possible explanations for this high rate of co-occurrence.
gambling reported a lifetime history of substance use disorder, First, heavy drinking might cause gambling problems (e.g., Ellery, with alcohol being the most commonly abused substance in this Stewart, & Loba, 2005). Second, gambling problems might cause clinical sample. This rate is substantially elevated relative to life- heavy drinking. Or, finally, some third variable might cause both time prevalence in the general population (Robins, Locke, & alcohol use disorders and pathological gambling (Grant, Kushner, Regier, 1991). The overlap of alcohol and gambling occurs not & Kim, 2002; Stewart & Kushner, 2003).
only at the diagnostic level but also at the behavioral level (i.e., Researchers have begun to explore what types of third variables frequent combining of these two activities). This behavioral over- might help explain the high comorbidity between alcohol use and lap is evidenced in both survey (e.g., Focal Research, 1998) and gambling disorders. For example, recent evidence suggests a com- behavioral observation studies (e.g., Stewart, McWilliams, Black- mon genetic vulnerability for pathological gambling and alcohol- burn, & Klein, 2002). For example, in a lab-based experimental use disorders (Slutske et al., 2000). Others (e.g., Comings et al., study, 73% of regular gamblers assigned to a video lottery terminal 1996; Potenza, 2001) have suggested that both disorders mayinvolve dysregulation of dopaminergic brain circuitry. This dys-regulation may be genetically mediated or environmentally medi-ated (e.g., as a consequence of chronic stress; Lin, Bruijnzeel, Sherry H. Stewart, Pamela Collins, Shondalee Eisnor, and Michael Schmidt, & Markou, 2002) and is thought to result in increased Ellery, Department of Psychology, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova susceptibility to incentive reward motivation.
Scotia, Canada; Jordan B. Peterson, Department of Psychology, Universityof Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
Research over the last few decades has suggested that heart rate Shondalee Eisnor is now at the Maritime School of Social Work, increase may constitute a psychophysiological marker of incentive reward motivation susceptibility, at least under some conditions Sherry H. Stewart is now at the Departments of Psychiatry and Psy- (Fowles, 1980; Fowles, Fisher, & Tranel, 1982), as the cardiovas- cular system steps up its output to prepare the body for motivated, This research was supported by a generous grant from the Nova Scotia goal-directed action (Wright, Killebrew, & Pimpalapure, 2002).
Gaming Foundation. Sherry H. Stewart is supported through an Investiga- Under conditions of high expectancy of eventual reward, this tor Award from the Canadian Institutes of Health Research.
increase appears particularly evident (Ladouceur, Sevigny, Blaszc- Correspondence concerning this article should be addressed to Sherry H.
Stewart, Department of Psychology, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova zynski, O’Connor, & Lavoie, 2003). Incentive reward (i.e., tech- Scotia B3H 4J1, Canada. E-mail: sherry.stewart@dal.ca nically, response to a cue for consummatory reward or to novelty; STEWART, PETERSON, COLLINS, EISNOR, AND ELLERY Gray, 1982) appears mediated primarily by the dopaminergic Until recently, however, no research had examined heart-rate reward systems (Gray, 1982; Panksepp, 1999) originating in the responses to alcohol and gambling in the same individuals within ventral tegmental area, and involving the extended amygdala, the the same study. Stewart, Collins, Blackburn, Ellery, and Klein nucleus accumbens, and the orbital frontal cortex (Blackburn, (2005) examined heart rate responses to VLT play and alcohol Pfaus, & Phillips, 1992) and/or anterior cingulate cortex (Kalivas consumption, alone and in combination. Forty-four regular VLT & McFarland, 2003). Activation of this system has been hypoth- players (i.e., a group including both probable pathological and esized as the primary commonality linking drugs of abuse in nonpathological gamblers) were randomly assigned to a moder- ately intoxicating dose of alcohol or a control (mix only) beverage Some have argued that heart-rate increases in response to alco- condition. Heart rate was recorded at three times: at a predrinking hol intake in the resting state reflect a psychomotor stimulant-like baseline, at a postdrinking baseline, and during VLT play. Through response to alcohol (similar to that observed for established stim- comparison of degree of increases from pre- to postdrinking base- ulant drugs like cocaine; e.g., Peterson et al., 1996). Peterson, Pihl, line among gamblers assigned to the alcohol and control beverage Seguin, Finn, and Stewart (1993) hypothesized that the alcohol- conditions, the results confirmed previous findings that alcohol induced baseline resting heart rate increase characteristic of sons consumption alone increased heart rate (cf. Peterson et al., 1993, of multigenerational alcoholics was a consequence of an enhanced 1996; Stewart et al., 1992). The study also demonstrated that VLT psychomotor stimulant response to alcohol. Among animal re- play alone increased heart rate, like other forms of gambling (cf.
searchers, it has been long known that alcohol is capable of Coventry & Hudson, 2001; Griffiths, 1993; Leary & Dickerson, directly activating the dopamine reward system (e.g., Deminiere, 1985), among players in the control beverage condition, and that Piazza, LeMoal, & Simon, 1989; McBride, Murphy, Lumeng, & the combination of VLT play and alcohol-intensified heart rate Li, 1990). Further evidence for baseline heart rate increase as an increase, relative to either condition alone. Given the evidence index of the reward properties of alcohol intake comes from a suggesting that baseline heart rate increases might index the in- variety of sources. For example, baseline heart rate increases to centive reward characteristics of certain forms of addictive activ- alcohol have been associated with increased alcohol use (Peterson ity, it appears that the combination of VLT play and alcohol use et al., 1993), alcoholic family history (Stewart, Finn, & Pihl, 1992), and increases in positive mood states (Conrod, Peterson, & The current study was designed to replicate and extend Stewart Pihl, 2001). Furthermore, Boileau et al. (2003) recently directly et al. (2005). We, therefore, investigated heart-rate responses to a demonstrated that dopamine was in fact released in the ventral moderately intoxicating dose of alcohol, to VLT play, and to their striatum and nucleus accumbens as a consequence of alcohol combination, among a sample of regular VLT players. We also intake in humans (using [11C]raclopride positron-emission tomog- made a number of methodological improvements. First, because it raphy scans), and that such release did correlate both with alcohol- was not designed to examine expectancy effects, our earlier study induced baseline heart-rate increase and impulsiveness. Such re- used a mix-only beverage rather than a placebo beverage in the lease may be a direct or first order consequence of alcohol’s effect control beverage condition. To control for expectancy effects, we on the dopaminergic systems; alternatively, at least in some cases, used a placebo-beverage condition in the present study. Second, it might also be mediated indirectly via alcohol’s stimulation of during our original study, participants played a video poker game endogenous opiate release (Peterson et al., 1996), as alcohol- on the VLT machines. In the present study we had participants induced baseline heart-rate increase can be reduced to zero as a play a “spinning reels” game, which is a video-simulated slot consequence of the coadministration of naltrexone, an opiate an- machine game. This particular game is popular with most VLT tagonist (Peterson, Conrod, Vassileva, Gianoulakis, & Pihl, in players (Focal Research, 1998). Finally, the previous study did not press). Although opiates are primarily regarded as analgesics, include a sufficient sample size to test whether the heart-rate cocaine also has potent analgesic properties, and opiates have increases to alcohol, VLT play, and their combination were dif- powerful psychomotor stimulant effects (Gianoulakis, 1996; Gray, ferent among probable pathological gamblers (PPGs) and non- pathological gambler controls (NPGs). Brunelle, Assaad, Pihl, Incentive reward activation also appears to mediate at least Tremblay, and Vitaro (2003) have recently demonstrated that some of the pleasurable and addictive aspects of gambling. Grif- elevated scores on a measure of gambling problems (the South fiths (1991) has contended that pathological gamblers engage in Oaks Gambling Screen [SOGS]; Lesieur & Blume, 1987) were in gambling for its euphoric, arousal-enhancing consequences. In fact associated with greater sensitivity to alcohol-induced heart indirect keeping with such a hypothesis, Zack and Poulos (2004) rate increases. In the present study, we increased our sample size have recently demonstrated that amphetamine, a potent dopamine so that we could determine whether PPGs, as identified on the agonist, primes motivation to gamble in problem gamblers. Fur- SOGS, might show comparatively increased heart rate to VLT thermore, heart-rate increase characterizes regular gamblers during play, alcohol, and/or their combination, relative to NPGs.
gambling bouts (Coventry & Hudson, 2001; Griffiths, 1993) and In the present study, we used a 2 ϫ 2 ϫ 3 (Gambler Group ϫ appears related to the excitement generated by the possibility of Beverage Condition ϫ Testing Time) mixed-model design with winning money (Ladouceur et al., 2003) and to the similarity of the two between- and one within-subjects factor. We divided regular testing situation to the real-world gambling context (Diskin, Hod- VLT players into probable pathological versus nonpathological gins, & Skitch, 2003). Taken together, such findings suggest the gambler groups on the basis of scores on the SOGS (Lesieur & possibility that heart-rate increase may represent a common psy- Blume, 1987). Participants in each gambler group were randomly chophysiological marker of susceptibility to reward from both assigned to an alcohol or a placebo– control beverage condition.
drinking and gambling and, thus, susceptibility to developing Heart rate was measured at three testing times: predrinking base- line, postdrinking baseline, and during VLT play. We tested sev- eral hypotheses that follow from the idea that enhanced dopamine/ photoplethysmograph was attached to the middle finger of the nondomi- incentive–reward sensitivity underlies alcohol abuse/pathological nant hand. Mean heart rate was calculated via the ProCompϩ/Biograph program first as the average interbeat interval (IBI) at each testing phase, First, we expected a two-way Beverage Condition ϫ Testing across the entire recording interval. IBI was then converted to beats perminute (bpm). Participants gambled on VLTs that were identical in all Time interaction, consisting of the following three effects: (a) heart respects to commercial VLTs appearing in licensed establishments in the rate increase to alcohol consumption alone, evidenced by an in- province of Nova Scotia (Stewart, Blackburn, & Klein, 2000). VLTs are crease in heart rate from pre- to postdrinking baseline in the similar to slot machines in that both are electronic gaming machines that alcohol beverage condition (with no change in the placebo bever- operate using random number generators. Both VLTs and slot machines age condition) and by a greater heart rate in the alcohol beverage can be used to play spinning reels-type games. However, VLTs do not condition relative to the placebo beverage condition at postdrink- contain mechanical reels but rather use video-simulated reels.
ing baseline (but no difference between beverage conditions atpredrinking baseline); (b) heart-rate increases to VLT play alone, evidenced by an increase in heart rate from postdrinking baselineto the VLT play phase in both the alcohol and placebo beverage For the purposes of telephone screening, we developed a standard conditions and by an increase in heart rate from predrinking telephone script incorporating the scorable items from the SOGS (Lesieur baseline in the placebo beverage condition; and (c) heart rate & Blume, 1987) to appropriately assign the participant to a condition increase to the combination of alcohol intake and VLT play, within the 2 ϫ 2 design. PPGs were overrecruited (i.e., actively sought as relative to either activity alone, evidenced by a greater heart rate in potential participants on the basis of the results of telephone screening) to the alcohol beverage condition relative to the placebo beverage equate the n in each cell of the 2 ϫ 2 (Beverage Condition ϫ Gambler condition at VLT play (but no difference between beverage con- Group) between-subjects design. This was accomplished by continuing torecruit PPGs into the study after the two cells (i.e., alcohol and placebo) of ditions at predrinking baseline) and by a greater heart rate increase NPGs had been filled. Within each gambler group, random assignment to to VLT play from predrinking baseline in those who had consumed one of the two beverage conditions was accomplished via lottery at the alcohol relative to those who had consumed placebo. Second, we time of participant screening. Eligible individuals were instructed to fast expected a three-way Gambler Group ϫ Beverage Condition ϫ for 4 hr and to abstain from alcohol and drugs for 24 hr prior to testing (cf.
Time interaction, such that all the effects listed above would be Testing occurred during the afternoon in a laboratory modified to re- semble a bar. The “bar-lab” contained a bar and two VLTs. Consent wasobtained, fasting was verified verbally, and participants were weighed to determine alcohol dose. BAC was taken to verify abstinence from alcohol and to provide a predrinking baseline measure. Participants were provided$80 (Canadian) compensation. Questionnaires were administered. The Sixty regular VLT players were recruited via newspaper and local cable photoplethysmograph was attached and an 8-min habituation period fol- TV advertisement.1 Half were PPGs, according to their SOGS scores; the lowed. Predrinking baseline heart rate was continuously recorded for 5 other half were NPGs. To be eligible for participation, respondents had to min3 followed by administration of a demographics questionnaire.
play VLTs at least once a month, be familiar with a spinning reels game, Participants were provided with their assigned beverage (alcohol or and consume alcohol at least once a month. These were the same inclusion placebo) in 3– 4 glasses, depending on total volume. Because this study criteria used for our last study (Stewart et al., 2005). Because the study was also designed to test expectancy effects, all participants were informed involved alcohol administration, those scoring Ն6 on the Brief Michigan that they would be receiving a moderate dose of alcohol, consisting of the Alcoholism Screening Test (Pokorny, Miller, & Kaplan, 1972), indicative equivalent of 3– 4 mixed bar drinks. For those in the alcohol condition, the of possible problem-drinker status, were excluded (Stewart et al., 2005).
alcohol dose was 1.55 mL 50% United States Pharmacopeia units of Those with medical contraindications to alcohol consumption were ex-cluded (Stewart et al., 2005).
We compared our sample with 711 regular VLT players in Nova Scotia 1 Eighty-three people responded to recruitment advertisements. Of these, on demographics and addictive behaviors (Focal Research, 1998). Our 67 met study inclusion criteria. Reasons for exclusion included possible sample appeared representative of regular players, except that our partic- problem drinker status (i.e., scoring above the cutoff-point on the Brief ipants were less likely to be married or cohabiting (29% vs. 57%), had Michigan Alcoholism Screening Test), medical contraindications to alco- played VLTs for longer (Ms ϭ 6.8 vs. 3.6 years), and were more likely to hol ingestion, and lack of familiarity with the spinning reels game. Of the be probable pathological gamblers (50% vs. 16%).2 67 eligible individuals who initially agreed to participate, 60 appeared asscheduled; the rest were no-shows or cancellations.
The Focal Research (1998) report did not include measures of vari- ability to permit direct statistical comparisons with the present results. It Information on demographic characteristics and addictive behaviors was should also be noted that PPGs were defined differently in the two studies.
obtained via author-compiled questionnaires. Subjective intoxication was In the present study, PPGs were defined by SOGS scores (Lesieur & measured using a 100-mm visual analog scale (VAS). Gambler group Blume, 1987), whereas a more stringent measure, developed by the au- membership was determined by screening scores on the SOGS—a reliable thors, was used in the Focal Research study. Moreover, as noted in the and valid screen for problem gambling. Those scoring Ն5 on the SOGS procedure section, probable pathological gamblers were purposely overre- were assigned to the PPG group and all others to the NPG group (cf.
cruited in the present study to equate cell n in the 2 ϫ 2 (Gambler Group ϫ Lesieur & Blume, 1987). Blood alcohol concentrations (BACs) were Beverage Condition) between-subjects design.
measured using an Alcosensor III (Intoximeters, St. Louis, Missouri).
3 The length of the heart-rate recording interval at each of the two Heart rate was collected with a photoplethysmograph via the ProCompϩ/ baseline phases was increased from 90 s in our original study to 5 min in Biograph psychophysiological data acquisition system (Thought Technol- the present study to allow for collection of a potentially more representa- ogy, Montreal, Quebec, Canada). So as not to interfere with VLT play, the tive sample of heart rate within each baseline phase.
STEWART, PETERSON, COLLINS, EISNOR, AND ELLERY alcohol/kg body weight for men (1.29 mL/kg for women), mixed 1:4 parts Post hoc tests revealed that relative to predrinking, BACs were alcohol to cranberry juice. The dose targeted a peak BAC of 0.055% elevated at postdrinking, t(29) ϭ 24.83, p Ͻ .01, ␩2 ϭ .955, and (Stewart et al., 2005). Placebo drinks (cranberry juice only) were matched post-VLT play, t(29) ϭ 31.29, p Ͻ .01, ␩2 ϭ .971. BACs at for volume with the alcohol drinks. To provide taste and smell cues of postdrinking and post-VLT play also differed, t(29) ϭ 2.71, p Ͻ alcohol for the placebo participants, we spread a small amount of vodka .05, ␩2 ϭ .140, with BACs falling slightly between the postdrink- around the rim of each glass and a few drops of vodka were placed on thetop surface of each drink (cf. MacDonald, Stewart, Hutson, Rhyno, & ing assessment and the assessment following the completion of Loughlin, 2001). No additional visual cues were provided, as recom- VLT play. These results suggested that the experimental procedure mended by Ross and Pihl (1989), to avoid excessive experimental demand was quite successful in targeting the desired BAC of 0.055% at characteristics. As in Stewart et al. (2005), beverages were consumed postdrinking, and at keeping this BAC elevated close to the target steadily over 20 –25 min, depending on volume. Participants then rested for 20 –25 min to permit alcohol absorption. A postdrinking baseline heart rate A 2 ϫ 2 ϫ 2 (Gambler Group ϫ Beverage Condition ϫ Testing was continuously recorded for 5 min (see Footnote 3). Participants thenprovided a postdrinking BAC reading and were asked to rate their subjec- Time) mixed-model ANOVA was conducted on VAS scores at tive level of intoxication on the VAS scale.
postdrinking and post-VLT play. Again, gambler group was in- Participants were invited to use their own money to play the spinning cluded as a variable to ensure that groups did not differ in subjec- reels game on one of two VLTs for up to 15 min.4 They were informed that tive intoxication levels. The ANOVA revealed only a testing time the odds of winning or losing were exactly the same as on any machine main effect, F(1, 56) ϭ 24.91, p Ͻ .01, ␩2 ϭ .948 (M ϭ 31.80, they had played on previously in the province. They were told that they SD ϭ 23.31, vs. M ϭ 22.47, SD ϭ 19.22, for postdrinking and could gamble as little or as much money as they wanted (up to a maximum post-VLT play assessment times, respectively). The fact that there of the $80, which they had been provided at the onset of the study). Thismaximum was set to ensure that participants did not spend money out of were no beverage-condition effects on VAS scores supports the their own pockets to play the VLTs in the lab. Participants were informed supposition that the placebo manipulation was successful. Further- that they would not be reimbursed for any money they lost while gambling.
more, although subjective intoxication scores decreased somewhat Similarly, they were informed that they could keep or continue to play with from postdrinking to post-VLT play, t tests indicated that average any winnings.5 Heart rate was continuously recorded during this time.
subjective intoxication was Ͼ0 at both testing points, t(59) ϭ Consistent with Stewart et al. (2005), 30 min after the beginning of the 10.57, p Ͻ .01, ␩2 ϭ .654, and t(59) ϭ 9.06, p Ͻ .01, ␩2 ϭ .582, VLT play session, participants provided a post-VLT play BAC reading and completed a second VAS subjective intoxication measure. Smoking wasnot permitted during testing. Participants were debriefed about their bev- We conducted a 2 ϫ 2 ϫ 3 (Gambler Group ϫ Beverage erage condition status, including an explanation to placebo participants as Condition ϫ Testing Time) mixed-model ANOVA on heart rate at to the nature and necessity of the placebo deception (cf. MacDonald et al., the predrinking and postdrinking baseline measurement periods 2001). If a participant was in the placebo condition, any winnings were and during VLT play. A testing time effect, F(2, 112) ϭ 4.76, p ϭ paid out and he or she was sent home. Alcohol participants remained until .01, ␩2 ϭ .078, emerged, along with the predicted Beverage BAC reached 0.04%. Taxi chits were available for transportation home if Condition ϫ Testing Time interaction, F(2, 112) ϭ 3.92, p Ͻ .05, a ride had not been previously arranged.
␩2 ϭ .065. Means and standard deviations for the hypothesizedBeverage Condition ϫ Testing Time interaction are illustrated in Figure 1. No other effects were revealed. In particular, the ex-pected three-way interaction was nonsignificant, F(2, 112) ϭ 1.21, Demographic characteristics and addictive behavior measure ns, ␩2 ϭ .021, providing no evidence for our hypothesis that scores were examined in a set of 2 ϫ 2 (Beverage Condition ϫGambler Group) analyses of variance (ANOVAs) and chi-square heart-rate increases to alcohol, VLT play, and their combination (␹2) analyses to ensure that random assignment to beverage con- dition was effective in balancing groups on potentially confound-ing variables. Analyses revealed no significant main or interactiveeffect of beverage condition and gambler group on age, gender,marital status, educational history, annual income, years playingVLTs, or number of drinks per week. As expected, a significantmain effect of gambler group was found for SOGS total score, with 4 The length of the VLT play session and associated heart-rate recording those in the PPG group scoring significantly higher than those in interval was decreased from 30 min in our original study to 15 min in the the NPG group (Ms ϭ 8.8 vs. 1.6, respectively): F(3, 56) ϭ present study for several reasons. First, we felt a shorter heart rate record- 150.43, p Ͻ .01. No other significant effects were revealed. Table ing interval would be more comparable to the 5 min intervals used at the 1 contains means and standard deviations on demographic and two baseline phases (see Footnote 3). Second, when offered the opportu- addictive behavior variables as a function of Gambler Group ϫ nity to play for up to 30 min in our previous study (Stewart et al., 2005),only half of the regular gambler participants chose to play for the full allotted time (range ϭ 18 –30 min). To maintain ecological validity, we A 2 ϫ 3 (Gambler Group ϫ Testing Time) mixed-model still allowed participants to self-select length of VLT play but shortened the ANOVA was performed on alcohol condition participants’ BACs.
maximal interval to 15 min to reduce variability in length of the VLT play Gambler group was included as a factor to ensure that the groups section. All but 2 of our 60 participants chose to play for the full 15 min did not differ in objective intoxication levels. The ANOVA re- vealed only a testing time effect, F(2, 56) ϭ 510.04, p Ͻ .01, ␩2 ϭ 5 Although participants were informed at study outset that large wins .948 (predrinking, M ϭ .000%, SD ϭ .000; postdrinking, M ϭ (e.g., more than $250) would be paid via check rather than cash, no such .056%, SD ϭ .012; and post-VLT play, M ϭ .051%, SD ϭ .009).
large wins occurred during the course of the study.
Table 1Means and Standard Deviations on Demographic and Addictive Behavior Variables as aFunction of Beverage Condition and Gambler Group Placebo (n ϭ 15) Alcohol (n ϭ 15) Placebo (n ϭ 15) Alcohol (n ϭ 15) NPG ϭ nonpathological gamblers; PPG ϭ probable pathological gamblers; SOGS ϭ South Oaks Gambling Screen; VLT ϭ video lottery terminal.
The significant two-way interaction was followed up with sim- higher than at postdrinking baseline, t(29) ϭ 3.05, p Ͻ .01, ␩2 ϭ ple effects analyses and post hoc tests6 to test the three specific .243. However, inconsistent with expectation, in the placebo hypotheses regarding the effects of alcohol, VLT play, and their group, heart rates at VLT play were not higher than at predrinking combination on heart rate. Analyses of the simple effects of baseline, t(29) ϭ 0.54, ns, ␩2 ϭ .010. For alcohol-condition beverage condition at each testing time revealed that alcohol- participants, contrary to the hypothesis involving alcohol-induced condition participants displayed elevated heart rates, relative to heart rate increases, post hoc tests indicated that heart rates were placebo participants, at postdrinking, F(1, 58) ϭ 5.22, p Ͻ .05, not elevated at post relative to predrinking, t(29) ϭ Ϫ0.61, ns, ␩2 ϭ .083, and during VLT play, F(1, 58) ϭ 4.14, p Ͻ .05, ␩2 ϭ ␩2 ϭ .013. However, consistent with the hypothesis involving .067, but not at the predrinking baseline, F(1, 58) ϭ 0.28, ns, ␩2 ϭ VLT play-induced heart-rate increases, in the alcohol condition, .005, consistent with our hypotheses of heart-rate increases to heart rate was elevated at VLT play relative to both predrinking, alcohol alone, and to the combination of alcohol intake and VLT t(29) ϭ 2.80, p Ͻ .01, ␩2 ϭ .213, and postdrinking, t(29) ϭ 2.03, play, respectively. Although significant simple effects of testing p Ͻ .05, ␩2 ϭ .125, baselines.
time were revealed both in the alcohol, F(2, 58) ϭ 3.98, p Ͻ .05, To determine whether heart rate increases to VLT play varied by .121, and placebo, F(2, 58) ϭ 4.74, p Ͻ .05, ␩2 ϭ .140, beverage condition (i.e., to further test the hypothesis that heart conditions, the pattern of heart-rate changes over testing timesvaried by beverage condition. For placebo participants, contrary to rate increases to the combination of VLT play and alcohol intake our prediction that there would be no change in heart rate follow- would be greater than those to either activity alone), we submitted ing placebo beverage ingestion, post hoc tests indicated that heartrates were significantly lower at postdrinking than at predrinking 6 Because this study is relatively exploratory (i.e., the first study to baseline, t(29) ϭ Ϫ2.81, p Ͻ .01, ␩2 ϭ .214. As covered more examine, within the same study, potential differences between PPGs and extensively in the Discussion, this effect may reflect an antago- NPGs in their relative sensitivity to heart-rate increases to alcohol, VLT nistic placebo response that can occur when the participant is play, and their combination), we made an a priori decision not to adjust ␣ expecting but does not receive alcohol (see Newlin, 1985). Par- levels in our post hoc tests to maximize our chances of observing the tially consistent with our expectation of heart rate increases to hypothesized effects if they do exist. Nonetheless, as covered in the VLT play alone, in the placebo group, heart rates at VLT play were Discussion, this decision increases the probability of Type I error.
STEWART, PETERSON, COLLINS, EISNOR, AND ELLERY Mean heart rate in beats per minute (bpm) as a function of beverage condition and testing time.
VLT ϭ video lottery terminal. Error bars represent standard deviations.
heart rate change scores (i.e., heart rate at VLT play minus heart regular gamblers identified as PPGs would show greater heart-rate rate at predrinking baseline) to a 2 ϫ 2 (Gambler Group ϫ increases in response to alcohol and/or gambling. We hypothesized Beverage Condition) between-subjects ANOVA. The analysis re- that alcohol would lead to increases in heart rate relative to both vealed only a beverage condition effect, F(1, 56) ϭ 4.55, p Ͻ .05, heart rate at the predrinking baseline and heart rate in the group ␩2 ϭ .075. As hypothesized, alcohol participants showed a greater administered placebo. We also hypothesized that VLT play would magnitude heart-rate increase to VLT play than did placebo con- increase heart rate relative to pre- and postdrinking baselines even trols (M ϭ 2.99 bpm, SD ϭ 5.85, vs. M ϭ Ϫ0.75 bpm, SD ϭ 7.62, among those consuming placebo and that the combination of VLT respectively). Again, the predicted Beverage Condition ϫ Gam- play and alcohol intake would result in further heart rate increases bler Group interaction was nonsignificant, F(1, 56) ϭ 2.01, ns, relative to either activity alone. Finally, we hypothesized that the ␩2 ϭ .035, providing no evidence that heart-rate increases to the above effects would prove stronger among PPGs relative to NPGs.
combination of VLT play and alcohol intake would be greater In the current study we were able to partially replicate Stewart et al. (2005) with respect to the effects of alcohol. Previousresearch shows that alcohol consumption increases heart rate rel- ative to placebo (cf. Peterson et al., 1993, 1996; Stewart et al., The present study was designed to investigate the existence of a 1992) and we expected to see heart rate elevations in those ad- potential common reward mechanism that may underlie the rein- ministered alcohol relative to those administered placebo in the forcing effects of drinking and gambling behavior among regular present study at postdrinking baseline. This hypothesis was sup- VLT players. In effect, we set out to replicate and extend our ported in that participants in the alcohol condition displayed ele- earlier study on this issue (i.e., Stewart et al., 2005) by investigat- vated heart rate relative to participants in the placebo condition at ing heart-rate responses to a moderately intoxicating dose of postdrinking but not at the predrinking baseline.
alcohol, to VLT play, and to their combination, among a sample of We were also able to partially replicate Stewart et al. (2005) regular VLT players, half of whom were given alcohol and half of with respect to the effects of VLT play, extending our previous whom received a mix-only control beverage. The two main findings of heart rate increase with a video poker game to the more changes from our original study were the use of a placebo bever- popular type of spinning reels VLT game. All players, regardless age to control for expectancy effects in the present study and the of beverage condition, showed elevated heart rates at VLT play, use of a larger sample size that allowed us to investigate whether relative to postdrinking baseline. However, heart rates were ele- vated during VLT play relative to predrinking baseline only among susceptible to heart rate increases to gambling (and/or alcohol) those administered alcohol, suggesting that the effects of gambling because of their high-risk status, washing out any between-groups on heart rate interacted with beverage condition. We examined this differences. A second explanation pertains to the measurement interactive effect of drinking and VLT play more directly by instrument used in the present study (i.e., the original SOGS; comparing the degree of increase from predrinking baseline to Lesieur & Blume, 1987). Given problems recently identified with VLT play in each beverage condition in a supplementary set of the original SOGS as a measure of gambling problems (Strong, statistical analyses. As hypothesized, and consistent with our ear- Lesieur, Breen, & Stinchfield, 2004), future research should use an lier study (Stewart et al., 2005), we did see that the degree of alternative method for identifying PPGs (e.g., Canadian Problem increase from predrinking to VLT play was greater for those in the Gambling Index, Ferris & Wynne, 2001; DSM–IV-based question- alcohol condition. Thus, the combination of VLT play and alcohol naire, Beaudoin & Cox, 1999) to ensure that our null findings are consumption does appear to be linked to an additional heart-rate not due to measurement problems. Third, given recent research on increase, compared with the heart rate increase associated with the validity of subtyping gamblers (e.g., Blaszczynski & Nower, engaging in either addictive behavior alone, which may help 2002; Stewart, Wall, Loba, Stuart, & Ellery, 2004), it is possible explain the frequent pairing of these two activities in both clinical that certain subtypes of gamblers might be more or less sensitive and nonclinical populations (Focal Research, 1998; Stewart & to the heart rate effects of gambling and alcohol. In future research Kushner, 2003; Stewart et al., 2002).
it would be interesting to determine whether enhancement- Although most aspects of our original study (Stewart et al., motivated gamblers (a subtype who self-report gambling specifi- 2005) were replicated, there were some important differences as cally to increase positive affect; Stewart et al., 2004) or impulsive well. For example, contrary to hypothesis, alcohol participants gamblers (a subtype with difficulties regulating behavior in the showed no significant increase in heart rate from pre- to postdrink- presence of cues for reward; Blaszczynski & Nower, 2002) show ing baselines. This was surprising given that several studies (e.g., increased sensitivity to the positively reinforcing effects of gam- Stewart et al., 1992, 2005) have shown that alcohol increases heart bling (and/or alcohol) indexed by degree of heart rate response to rate from resting baseline. We also found placebo participants these addictive activities, relative to other gambler subtypes.
actually had higher heart rates at predrinking than at postdrinking Fourth, the findings may indeed be valid in that there may be no baseline. It appears most likely that this was a consequence of a greater sensitivity to heart rate increases among PPGs. In fact, a conditioned compensatory response. Newlin (1985) found an au- similar lack of relation between heart rate response to gambling tonomic response in placebo-condition participants that was op- and severity of pathological gambling has been observed in pre- posite in direction to the effects of alcohol among a sample of male vious studies (e.g., Diskin & Hodgins, 2003; Meyer et al., 2000).
social drinkers. In effect, the cues associated with drinking alcohol Finally, it is possible that the combination of VLT play and alcohol (e.g., bar setting, smell of vodka) may have elicited a conditioned intake might be particularly addicting to potential alcoholics who compensatory response, causing heart rate to decrease in anticipa- gamble (and therefore show an exceptionally enhanced heart rate tion of receiving the beverage, resulting in heart rate deceleration in the combined condition), rather than to potential problem gam- in the placebo-condition participants from the pre- to the post- drinking baseline. This conditioned compensatory response was Several potential limitations to the current study should be presumably not operative in our last study because we used a noted. One possible limitation pertains to the heart rate recording control beverage rather than a placebo beverage in the latter equipment used. We used a photoplethysmograph attached to a (Stewart et al., 2005). This explanation could also be used to finger on the nondominant hand to collect IBI data that were later account for the lack of change between pre- and postdrinking converted to bpm values. Although some would argue that a more baselines in the alcohol group in the present study. Specifically, a appropriate method for heart rate recording would be through the conditioned compensatory heart rate deceleration in the alcohol- use of an electrocardiogram and electrodes placed on the chest condition participants could have countered the expected stimulant (e.g., Stewart et al., 1992), others have argued for the value of IBI effects of alcohol, resulting in no net change from pre- to post- measurements in studies on heart rate (e.g., Heslegrave, Ogilvie, & drinking baseline in this beverage condition.
Furedy, 1979). Another possible limitation pertains to the possi- Contrary to hypothesis, the present study also found no effects bility that heart rate measures may have been influenced by minor of gambler group on degree of heart rate response to gambling, movement artifact, particularly during the VLT play phase, which drinking, or their combination. The failure to observe between- involved some small degree of movement. Nonetheless, studies groups differences in heart rate increases to these addictive activ- that have included a movement baseline control condition have ities was not secondary to differences in heart rate at the predrink- showed that heart rate increases to gambling are larger than those ing resting baseline. This latter finding is in contrast to predictions caused by the minimal movement involved in gambling activity that would be made on the basis of Jacobs’s (1986) general theory (Coventry & Norman, 1997) making this possible explanation of of addictions in which he postulates that abnormalities in physio- our findings unlikely. A further possible limitation was the rela- logical resting state predispose people to persistent, uncontrolled tively small sample size per group in the 2 ϫ 2 (Gambler Group ϫ behavioral patterns involving both drinking and gambling. The Beverage Condition) between-subjects design that may have pre- failure to find the hypothesized gambler group differences in heart cluded observation of the predicted interaction between these rate reactivity to gambling, alcohol, or their combination could be variables on heart rate. Nonetheless, observation of effect sizes involved in the predicted interactions involving the gambler status First, our control group consisted of regular gamblers who were variable indicate that low power is unlikely to explain the absence not preselected into groups at high or low risk for gambling of differences in heart rate reactivity across the PPG versus NPG problems. Thus, some of those in the control group may have been groups. We should also caution that our choice not to adjust ␣ in STEWART, PETERSON, COLLINS, EISNOR, AND ELLERY our post hoc tests (see Footnote 6) may have resulted in an imental approach to individual vulnerability to psychostimulant addic- increased probability of Type I errors. Finally, the present inves- tion. Neuroscience and Biobehavioral Review, 13, 141–147.
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