Changes of Functional MRI Findings in a Patient Whose Pathological Gambling Improved with Fluvoxamine.
10.3349/ymj.2009.50.3.441
- Author:
Sang Keun CHUNG
1
;
Il Han YOU
;
Gwang Hyun CHO
;
Gyung Ho CHUNG
;
Young Chul SHIN
;
Dai Jin KIM
;
Sam Wook CHOI
Author Information
1. Department of Psychiatry, Chonbuk National University Medical School, Jeonju, Korea.
- Publication Type:Case Report
- Keywords:
Fluvoxamine;
functional MRI;
pathological gambling
- MeSH:
Adult;
Behavior, Addictive/*drug therapy;
Fluvoxamine/*therapeutic use;
*Gambling;
Humans;
Magnetic Resonance Imaging;
Male;
Serotonin Uptake Inhibitors/*therapeutic use;
Treatment Outcome
- From:Yonsei Medical Journal
2009;50(3):441-444
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:English
-
Abstract:
Legalized gambling is a growing industry, and is probably a factor in the presently increasing prevalence of pathological gambling. We present a case of a 36-year-old pathological gambler who was treated with fluvoxamine, a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor, and who was assessed by functional MRI before and after drug administration. During activation periods, the pathological gambler was shown cards as stimuli, and fMRI results in several brain regions showed differential effects before and after medication and a maintenance period. This case demonstrates that the treatment response to fluvoxamine in a pathological gambler was observed not only by subjective self-report, but also by objective fMRI results. Therefore, fMRI may be a useful tool in the diagnosis and prediction of treatment response in patients afflicted with pathological gambling.
