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. 2023 Apr:147:105071.
doi: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2023.105071. Epub 2023 Feb 3.

Autism and gambling: A systematic review, focusing on neurocognition

Samuel R Chamberlain  1 , Betul Aslan  2 , Anthony Quinn  2 , Amith Anilkumar  2 , Janine Robinson  3 , Jon E Grant  4 , Julia Sinclair  5
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Free article

Autism and gambling: A systematic review, focusing on neurocognition

Samuel R Chamberlain et al. Neurosci Biobehav Rev. 2023 Apr.
Free article

Abstract

Autism spectrum disorders (hereafter autism) are prevalent and often associated with elevated rates of substance use disorders. A subset of people who gamble develop gambling disorder, which is functionally impairing. Characterization of relationships between autism and gambling, particularly as relates to cognition, may have important implications. We conducted a systematic review of the literature. Nine out of 343 publications were found eligible for inclusion. Most studies examined decision-making using cognitive tasks, showing mixed results (less, equivalent or superior performance in autistic people compared to non-autistic people). The most consistent cognitive finding was relatively slower responses in autistic people on gambling tasks, compared to non-autistic people. One study reported a link between problem gambling and autism scores, in people who gamble at least occasionally. This systematic review highlights a profound lack of research on the potential neurocognitive overlap between autism and gambling. Future work should address the link between autism and behavioral addictions in adequately powered samples, using validated tools.

Keywords: Addiction; At-risk; Autism; Autistic; Behavior; Cognition; Excoriation; Gamble; Gambling; Neurocognition; Neurotypical; Pathological; Picking; Problem; Problematic; Trichotillomania.

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Conflict of interest statement

Declaration of interest This study was funded by a grant from the Society for the Study of Addiction (SSA). Dr. Chamberlain and Dr. Quinn’s involvements in this research was funded by a Wellcome Trust Clinical Fellowship (110049/Z/15/Z & 110049/Z/15/A). For the purpose of open access, the author has applied a CC BY public copyright license to any Author Accepted Manuscript version arising from this submission. Dr. Chamberlain receives a stipend from Elsevier for editorial work. Dr. Grant has received research grants from Otsuka and Biohaven Pharmaceuticals. He receives yearly compensation from Springer Publishing for acting as Editor-in-Chief of the Journal of Gambling Studies and has received royalties from Oxford University Press, American Psychiatric Publishing, Inc., Norton Press, and McGraw Hill. Professor Sinclair is National Specialty Advisor for Alcohol Dependence NHS England. Dr Robinson is National Specialty Advisor for Autism NHS England. The other authors report no disclosures.

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