Memantine shows promise in reducing gambling severity and cognitive inflexibility in pathological gambling: a pilot study.

ABSTRACT:

Rationale

Although pathological gambling (PG) is relatively common, pharmacotherapy research for PG is limited. Memantine, an N-methyl D-aspartate receptor antagonist, appears to reduce glutamate excitability and improve impulsive decision making, suggesting it may help individuals with PG.

Objective

This study sought to examine the safety and efficacy of Memantine in PG.

Methods

Twenty-nine subjects (18 females) with DSM-IV PG were enrolled in a 10-week open-label treatment study of memantine (dose ranging from 10 to 30 mg/day). Subjects were enrolled from January 2009 until April 2010. Change from baseline to study endpoint on the Yale Brown Obsessive Compulsive Scale Modified for Pathological Gambling (PG-YBOCS) was the primary outcome measure. Subjects underwent p

SUBMITTER: Grant JE 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3465841 | biostudies-literature | 2010 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature