Gemma Mestre

Universidad Internacional de La Rioja | UNIR

Purpose of Review The present review focuses on relationships between pornography use, problematic pornography use, and their possible effects on partners and relationships. Recent Findings Pornography use has been examined in the setting of marriages and other partnered relationships. Aspects considered include pornography-use patterns, perceptio...

Background and objectives: Craving is one of the main criteria for the diagnosis of substance use disorder according to the DSM-5; however, it is not included in the main criteria for gambling disorder (GD). In the present systematic review, we aimed to evaluate the available body of knowledge regarding gambling craving to help step forward to a c...

Purpose of Review The main purpose of this narrative review is to provide a brief overview of the current empirical evidence regarding the conceptualization, assessment, and treatment of cyberchondria, with a focus on the potential classification of cyberchondria as a behavioral addiction. Although cyberchondria has been widely associated with anxi...

Introduction: There is a growing interest in the study of the neurobiological correlates of internet gaming disorder (IGD), and new techniques are beginning to be implemented for this purpose, such as independent component analysis (ICA). Aims: The present narrative review aimed to explore the studies that had used ICA for the study of the differen...

The reward system is highly relevant to behavioral addictions such as gambling disorder (GD), internet gaming disorder (IGD), and food addiction/binge eating disorder (FA/BED). Among other brain regions, the ventral striatum (VS) has been implicated in reward processing. The main objective of the present state-of-the-art review was to explore in de...

Objective: This study assessed gender-related differences in executive functions (decision-making, inhibitory control and cognitive flexibility), personality traits and psychopathological symptoms in binge-spectrum eating disorders (EDs). Secondly, we aimed to separately explore the predictive value of gender and executive functions in treatment o...

Objective: This study assessed gender‐related differences in executive functions (decision‐making, inhibitory control and cognitive flxibility), personality traits and psychopathological symptoms in binge‐spectrum eating disorders (EDs). Secondly, we aimed to separately explore the predictive value of gender and executive functions in treatment out...

Background and aims: There is a growing interest in determining the specific role of obsessive-compulsive features in different behavioral addictions. However, more studies comparing sizable clinical populations with different addictions are needed.Therefore, a main aim of the present study was to explore the presence of obsessive-compulsive featu...

Although there is a growing interest in exploring the specific role of both emotional regulation processes and alexithymia in gambling disorder (GD), evidence remains scarce. In order to delve deeper into the complex interactions between these factors, the present study aimed at exploring a network of the core GD-related features, including GD symp...

Objectives The current guidelines aim to evaluate the role of pharmacological agents in the treatment of patients with compulsive sexual behaviour disorder (CSBD). They are intended for use in clinical practice by clinicians who treat patients with CSBD. Methods An extensive literature search was conducted using the English-language-literature ind...

The presence of unsuitable coping and emotion regulation strategies in young populations with gambling disorder (GD) and in those who have experienced cyberbullying victimization has been suggested. However, this association has not been explored in depth. In this study, our aim was to analyze individual differences in emotion regulation, coping st...

Although food addiction (FA) is a debated condition and it is not currently recognized as a formal diagnosis, it shares features with other addictions, such as gambling disorder (GD). However, the prevalence of FA in GD and the clinical correlates are incompletely understood, especially within women versus men. To investigate FA in patients present...

Several studies have explored the association between gambling disorder (GD) and gambling-related crimes. However, it is still unclear how the commission of these offenses influences treatment outcomes. In this longitudinal study we sought: (1) to explore sociodemographic and clinical differences (e.g., psychiatric comorbidities) between individual...

Background and aims Since the acceptance of Internet gaming disorder (IGD) as a “disorder due to addictive behaviors”, research has proliferated exponentially. The present review focuses on the conceptualization of IGD, its diagnosis and assessment, associated factors and existing prevention and treatment plans to address it. Results and conclusio...

Motherhood has been proposed as an internal facilitating factor for the recovery of women with mental disorders. However, at the same time, there are significant barriers that may be interfering with the access and adherence to treatment for these women. The present longitudinal study aimed to deepen the sociodemographic and clinical profile of wom...

Objective: The present article aimed to review the available quantitative literature focused on exploring the factors associated with pornography use in adolescence. Method: Studies published in English in the last 15 years were searched in PubMed and Google Scholar. The studies obtained on adolescent pornography use were classified into the follow...

Many possible factors impact sexual wellbeing for women across the lifespan, and holistic approaches are being utilized to promote health and to address sexual concerns. Female sexual dysfunction disorders, including female orgasmic disorder, female sexual interest/arousal disorder and genito-pelvic pain/penetration disorder, negatively impact qual...

Background and aims The number of patients with gambling disorder (GD) whose gambling preference is sports betting is increasing. However, their clinical profile and their responses to psychological treatments -compared to patients with other forms of gambling- have not been thoroughly studied. Therefore, the aims of this study were: (1) to compare...

Lottery gambling can become an addictive behavior which can significantly interfere with daily functioning. The objectives of this work were to estimate the prevalence of lottery gambling, to assess the profile related to this gambling type in a large clinical sample of patients who met criteria for gambling disorder (GD), and to compare this profi...

Impulsivity and self-control are often inversely related, yet little is known regarding their concurrent role in gambling disorder (GD). Therefore, we aimed to explore self-control and impulsivity with respect to GD severity, gender, and age in an adult sample with GD. The secondary aim of this study was to consider the roles of these factors by me...

Impulsive choice, measured by delay discounting (DD) tasks, has been shown in patients with gambling disorders (GD). However, the impact of DD and treatment outcome has been scarcely explored in GD patients. The aims of this study were: (1) to examine the baseline association between DD and clinical variables in GD patients depending on their age a...

From clinical and research perspectives, the Pathways Model has been supported in adolescent and adult populations as a theoretical explanatory framework for considering gambling disorder (GD). However, it has been less well explored in clinical samples. Therefore, the aim of this study was to explore the Pathways Model, specifically pathways 2 (em...

Although there is a growing interest in understanding the impact of types and patterns of Internet use on individuals of different ages, relatively few studies have fully considered developmental perspectives. This chapter offers an overview of the main findings regarding Internet use and problematic Internet use during stages of development. It in...

Background and Objective: Complex associations between gambling disorder (GD) and impulsivity have been identified. However, little is known regarding how compulsivity associates with different impulsivity domains in GD. In this study, we examined associations between self-reported and behavioral measures of impulsivity–assessed through the Barratt...

Background and aims Emotion regulation (ER) and impulsivity impairments have been reported in patients with gambling disorder (GD). However, both constructs have not been studied in depth jointly in clinical samples. Therefore, the aim of this study was to analyze ER and impulsive tendencies/traits in a sample of n=321 treatment-seeking individuals...

Introduction: Mindfulness is defined as “the ability to pay attention in a particular way, in the present moment to the body and mind, with purpose and without judgment.” From a scientific perspective, mindfulness has been described as a mental function that allows us to keep the focus of our attention on an immediate experience of the present. Sex...

Introduction and objectives: in the last few years there has been a growing scientific interest in Persistent Genital Arousal Disorder (PGAD). It is characterized by elevated discomfort associated with persistent genital arousal in the form of genital sensations or tenderness in the genital area, in the absence of sexual desire. It was included in...

Suicidal ideation and attempts are prevalent among patients with gambling disorder (GD). However, GD patients with a history of lifetime suicidal events are not a homogeneous group. The main objective of this study was to compare sociodemographic, clinical, personality, and psychopathological features among different profiles of adults with GD with...

Background Gender-specific literature focused on gambling disorder (GD) is scarce, and women with GD have been understudied. Therefore, the aim of this study was to estimate the short-term effectiveness in women with GD (n=214) of a group standardized cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) and to identify the most relevant predictors of the primary the...

Interest in the use of pornography has increased exponentially in recent years. The main objective of this review is to evaluate the association between viewing pornographic materials and body image. The causality of the association between both factors has not yet been confirmed, so it would not be possible to say whether pornography influences or...

Purpose of Review The present review focuses on relationships between sexuality and religion, moral values, and ethics. Recent Findings Religious and ethical beliefs and moral values may influence sexuality including perception of pornography and its frequency of use, and engagement in sexual behaviors including pornography viewing may impact thes...

Interest in gambling disorder, formerly known as pathological gambling, has been growing in both the clinical and scientific community. The increase in empirical evidence concerning gambling disorder has allowed for a better understanding of the pathology, as well as the identification of common comorbidities and the design of potential therapeutic...

Behavioral addictions have been related with biased emotional reactions to risky choices. However, few studies have analyzed the role of both explicit and implicit emotional expression in gambling disorder (GD). This pilot study aims to examine emotion regulation in treatment-seeking patients with GD. The sample included n = 35 participants classif...

People with gambling disorder (GD) exhibit distorted cognitions and superstitious beliefs more often than the general population. Similarly, difficulties in coping and emotion dysregulation are more prevalent among those with GD, and could determine the onset of GD in particularly vulnerable groups such as adolescents. This study examines the relat...

Gambling motives and cognitive distortions are thought to be associated because both coping and financial motives to gamble appear to be predictors of gambling related cognitive distortions. Therefore, there is an argument to be made that gambling motives, cognitive distortions, and materialism share common attributes and might be related to proble...

Background and aims Increased delay discounting is associated with obesity and binge eating disorder (BED). Although BED and obesity frequently co-occur, the neural mechanisms underlying delay discounting in these conditions remain poorly understood. Methods Thirtyfive women with obesity, including 10 participants with obesity and BED and 31 contr...

Aims: We aim to study the the reliability and factorial structure of the Postpartum Bonding Questionnaire (PBQ)administered through two different formats, offline (paper-and-pencil) and online. We also compared clinical, obstetrical, reproductive, and psychopathological variables related to poor mother infant bonding (MIB). Methods: A cross-sectio...

Old age constitutes a vulnerable stage for developing gambling-related problems. The aims of the study were to identify patterns of gambling habits in elderly participants from the general population, and to assess socio-demographic and clinical variables related to the severity of the gambling behaviours. The sample included N = 361 participants a...

Gambling disorder, gambling-related cognitive biases, compulsive buying, and materialistic values lead to impaired functioning in important areas of life. The aims of the present longitudinal study are (1) to evaluate the change produced after one year in those mentioned variables and (2) to examine the gender role in these changes and to analyze t...

Few studies have compared the clinical characteristics of gambling disorder (GD) from a cross-cultural perspective. In the present study, we aimed to examine differences in gambling-related cognitions, gambling preferences, GD severity and other clinical and sociodemographic variables in individuals with GD in the United States and Spain. Two group...

Background and aims: It has been suggested that compulsivity has an essential role in gambling disorder (GD), yet there is a lack of literature exploring the link between GD, compulsivity and gender. Our main aim was to explore gender differences between two of the neurocognitive domains of compulsivity (attentional set-shifting and attentional bi...

Background and aims The commission of illegal acts has been associated with gambling disorder (GD). However, little is known about young adults with GD who commit GD-related crimes. Therefore, the main aim of this study was to compare sociodemographic, clinical, personality and psychopathological features among young adults with GD with and without...

Background objectives. Few studies have analyzed the comorbid presence of gambling disorder (GD) with schizophrenia, its sociodemographic correlates and clinical implications. This study estimated the prevalence of the dual diagnosis (GD with schizophrenia) and the differences in the profiles of patients with and without the dual condition. Method...

Older subjects are susceptible to develop gambling problems, and researchers have attempted to assess the mechanisms underlying the gambling profile in later life. The objective of this study was to identify the main stressful life events (SLE) across the lifespan which have discriminative capacity for detecting the presence of gambling disorder (G...

1) Background: The Differential Susceptibility to Media Effects Model (DSMM) suggests that pornography use effects are conditional and they depend on dispositional, developmental, and social differential susceptibility variables. This framework also highlights that the differential susceptibility variables act as predictors of pornography use and a...

People with gambling disorder (GD) often experience co-occurring addictive behaviors, especially at young ages. This paper aims at examining cognitive biases, emotion dysregulation, and coping strategies in people with and without GD, as well as comparing the comorbid addictions profiles of those in clinical versus community-based sites. A sample f...

Significant increasing prevalences have been observed in gambling disorder (GD) in the last decades. This study analyzed the underlying mechanisms of the gambling severity with path analysis (implemented through Structural Equation Modeling, SEM), and assessed the potential moderator effect of the patients’ sex. A sample of n = 512 treatment-seekin...

There is evidence for associations between pornography exposure and sexual behaviors of adults and adolescents. Here, we review associations between pornography exposure and body image/sexual body image. Using a systematic search, we found 26 studies meeting inclusion criteria. Compelling evidence shows that frequency of pornography exposure is ass...

Confinement during the COVID-19 pandemic is expected to have a serious and complex impact on the mental health of patients with an eating disorder (ED) and of patients with obesity. The present manuscript has the following aims: (1) to analyse the psychometric properties of the COVID Isolation Eating Scale (CIES), (2) to explore changes that occurr...

Participation in gambling is rising in older adults. Indeed, in the coming years, engagement in gambling as a social activity is expected to increase more sharply in the elderly than in any other age group. Due to their exposure to powerful age-specific risk factors such as isolation, inactivity and failing health, older people are highly vulnerabl...

Few studies have focused on the specific subtype of gamblers who present lotteries as their main gambling problem. This study aimed to explore empirical subgroups of treatment-seeking patients who endorsed lotteries as their preferred form of gambling. The sample included n = 342 patients who were included in two-step cluster analysis procedures us...

Purpose of Review The present review attempts to provide a comprehensive and critical overview of the neurocognitive mechanisms of gambling disorder (GD), problematic pornography use (PPU), and binge-eating disorder (BED), focusing specifically on decision-making processes. Recent Findings GD, PPU, and BED have been associated with decision-making...

The Publisher regrets that this article is an accidental duplication of an article that has already been published in COBEHA, 31 (2020) 102–108, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cobeha.2020.03.004. The duplicate article has therefore been withdrawn. The full Elsevier Policy on Article Withdrawal can be found at https://www.elsevier.com/about/our-business/...

Background Although deficits in affective processing are a core component of anorexia nervosa (AN), we lack a detailed characterization of the neurobiological underpinnings of emotion regulation impairment in AN. Moreover, it remains unclear whether these neural correlates scale with clinical outcomes. Methods We investigated the neural correlates...

(1) Background: Female genital mutilation/cutting (FGM/C) is associated with physical and psychological complications. However, there is scarce literature on how women with FGM/C respond to treatment interventions. (2) Methods: In the present pilot longitudinal study, we assessed changes in general psychopathology (Symptom Check List-90-R), sexual...

Objective The comorbidity between gambling disorder (GD) and buying-shopping disorder (BSD) has led to explore the core features that could be interacting between them. The main aim of this study was to examine the differences in both conditions considering emotion dysregulation, coping and materialism, as well as the relationship between these var...

Background: Cross-border reproductive care (CBRC) refers to the movement of patients to foreign countries for fertility treatment. Limited evidence indicates that this phenomenon is associated with a risk of psychological distress, but few studies on the psychological impact of CBRC are currently available. The aim of this study was to compare the...

Background and aims: Due to the contribution of age to the etiology of gambling disorder (GD), there is a need to assess the moderator effect of the aging process with other features that are highly related with the clinical profile. The objective of this study is to examine the role of the chronological age into the relationships between cognitiv...

Background There is a lack of information on how maternal stress coping styles during admission of the newborn to the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) influences the onset of the postpartum depression (PPD). We examined potential risk factors for the emergence of the PPD in mothers whose infants were admitted to the NICU. Methods A cross-sectio...

The use of instruments originally developed for measuring gambling activity in younger populations may not be appropriate in older age individuals. The aim of this study was to examine the presence of problematic and disordered gambling in seniors aged 50 or over, and study the reliability and validity properties of the SOGS (a screening measure to...

Background and Objectives The Internet provides easy access to multiple types of gambling and has led to changes in betting habits. A severe rise in problematic gambling has been predicted among all sectors of the population, and studies are required to assess the emerging phenotypes related to the new structures of gambling activities. This study...

With the global expansion of the COVID-19 pandemic, social or physical distancing, quarantines, and lockdowns have become more prevalent. Concurrently, Pornhub, one of the largest pornography sites, has reported increased pornography use in multiple countries, with global traffic increasing over 11% from late February to March 17, 2020. While some...

Background: There are no studies based on a person-centered approach addressing sex-related differences in the characteristics of treatment-seeking patients with gambling disorder (GD). The main objective of the current study is to identify empirical clusters of GD based on several measures of the severity of gambling behavior, and considering the...

Here we review emotional regulation and its relationship with gambling disorder. Specifically, we review difficulties individuals with gambling disorder may have in identifying emotional states and selecting and implementing emotional regulation strategies. Difficulties in emotional regulation in individuals with gambling disorder may relate import...

Impulsivity is a multidimensional construct. Although gambling disorder (GD) has been associated with high impulsivity, impulsivity across multiple domains has not been thoroughly investigated in this population. We first aimed to examine whether associations between three facets of impulsivity (response impulsivity, choice impulsivity and impulsiv...

Objectives: Although emotion regulation deficits have been implicated in gambling disorder and ADHD, the interplay between these factors has yet to be systematically studied. We examined relationships between ADHD symptoms, emotion regulation, and gambling disorder severity in a sample of treatment-seeking gambling disorder patients ( n = 98). We a...

Altered activity in decision-making neural circuitry may underlie the maladaptive food choices found in obesity. Here, we aimed to identify the brain regions purportedly underpinning risk-taking behavior in individuals with obesity. Twenty-three adult women with obesity and twenty-three healthy weight controls completed the Risky Gains Task during...