Impulsivity (and related traits reward/punishment sensitivity and
tolerance to delayed rewards) and gambling cognitions have been
linked to gambling. However, their independent associations with
gambling preferences and clinical status have never been dissociated.
The current study applied a data-driven strategy to identify gambling
preferences, based on gambling frequency in several modalities.
The two resulting factors were used to classify gambling disorder
patients (GDPs) and non-problem recreational gamblers (RGs) into
Type I (preferring cards, casino games and skill-based bets) and Type II
(preferring slot machines, lotteries/pools and bingo). Participants
were assessed in impulsivity, delay discounting, reward/punishment
sensitivity, gambling-related cognitions, gambling severity, gambling
frequency and average amount gambled per episode. GDPs scored
higher than RGs in positive and negative urgency, delay discounting,
reward sensitivity and intensity of gambling-related cognitions, but
less in lack of perseverance. Additionally, Type II gamblers had greater
difficulties delaying gratification, whereas Type I gamblers showed
higher cognitive distortion and reward sensitivity levels. In practical
terms, the finding that some characteristics are equally pervasive in
disordered gamblers independently of their preferences (affect-driven
impulsivity), whereas others (distorted cognitions, reward sensitivity,
delay discounting) are more prominent in one type or the other,
provides a basis to establish targets’ priority in therapy.