Transdiagnostic prevention and intervention efforts are needed to address executive dysfunction

Session Title

Poster Session

Presenters

Maria E. Meinerding MS, Saint Louis UniversityFollow
Margaret L. Paul BS, Saint Louis UniversityFollow
Trinity N. Zweifel, Saint Louis UniversityFollow
Michael L. Mathews, Loyola University ChicagoFollow
Jeremiah Weinstock PhD, Saint Louis UniversityFollow
Rory A. Pfund PhD, University of MemphisFollow

Presentation Type

Poster Presentation

Location

Park MGM, Las Vegas, NV

Start Date

24-5-2023 10:30 AM

End Date

24-5-2023 11:15 AM

Disciplines

Clinical Psychology

Abstract

Abstract: Executive functioning (EF) is a multi-faceted construct important to activities of daily living, emotion regulation, and higher-order thinking and is often impaired in individuals with gambling disorder and/or alcohol use disorders. Deficits in EF are associated with poor treatment engagement, psychiatric comorbidities, and relapse. The present study examined EF in college students (N = 832) aged 18-24 (M= 19.23, SD=1.37, 76.5% Women) in relation to gambling and hazardous drinking. The Barkley’s Deficits in Executive Functioning was used to assess for global EF and 5 facets of EF: Time Management, Organization/Problem Solving, Self-Restraint, Self-Motivation, and Emotion-Regulation. Bivariate correlation and ANOVA analyses were conducted. Approximately 3% of college students reported problem gambling and 20% reported engagement in hazardous drinking. Compared to individuals with non-problem drinking and non-problem gambling: (1) individuals with problem gambling had worse global EF, self-restraint, emotion regulation, and self-motivation, (2) individuals with hazardous drinking had worse Global EF, self-restraint, and emotion regulation and (3) individuals with both problem gambling and hazardous drinking had worse EF on self-restraint.

Implications: Impairments in several domains of EF (e.g., inhibition/self-restraint, emotion regulation, and self-motivation) were endorsed at a significantly higher rate among problematic gamblers and hazardous drinkers. Results partially support the pathways model of gambling (Blaszcynski & Nower, 2002) and support transdiagnostic prevention and intervention efforts around emotion regulation, motivation, and impulsivity.

Keywords

Executive Function, Impulsivity, Emotion Regulation, Motivation, Gambling, Alcohol Use

Author Bios

Maria E. Meinerding, MS is a clinical psychology doctoral candidate in the Wellness, Addiction, Gambling & Exercise Research (WAGER) lab at Saint Louis University. Her research broadly focuses on psychometrics and health behaviors. Ms. Meinerding is additionally interested in examining sociocultural identity and interpersonal relationships in relation to overall wellbeing among individuals in early substance use remission. She also serves as a student member on APA Division 12’s Committee on Science and Practice.

Margaret L. Paul, BS, is a clinical psychology doctoral student at Saint Louis University in the Wellness, Addiction, Gambling & Exercise Research (WAGER) Lab. Her research is primarily focused on substance use and gambling disorders, including risk factors, motives, and treatment. Ms. Paul also serves on APA Division 12 Committee on Science and Practice as a student committee member, working to maintain Division 12’s list of empirically supported psychological treatments.

Trinity N. Zweifel is a senior at Saint Louis University pursing her B.S. in psychology with a minor in health care ethics. She is a research assistant in Dr. Warner’s lab. She is interested in PTSD and addiction in aging populations. Mrs. Zweifel has clinical experience as a registered behavior technician by providing behavior therapy to neurodivergent children and adolescents. She holds aspirations to attend graduate school for clinical psychology.

Michael L. Mathews is a Molecular/Cellular Neuroscience major and psychology minor in his junior year at Loyola University Chicago. His research interests include the exploration of molecular pathways in neurodegenerative diseases. He hopes to pursue a graduate level degree in Neuroscience or obtain an MD/DO license

Jeremiah Weinstock, PhD is a Professor and Chair of the Department of Psychology at Saint Louis University. His research examines the characterization of gambling disorder and its treatment. He has over 65 peer-review publications and has received funding from the International Center for Responsible Gaming.

Rory A. Pfund, PhD is a Research Assistant Professor of Psychology and the Clinic and Research Director of The Institute of Gambling Education and Research at the University of Memphis. Dr. Pfund’s research focuses on understanding the effects of psychological treatments for gambling disorder. He is currently the co-investigator on a grant from the Tennessee Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services to develop a web-based portal to facilitate the initiation of gambling disorder treatment.

Funding Sources

None

Competing Interests

None