Pathological Gambling Due To Aripiprazole: Two Cases

Aripiprazole is an atypical antipsychotic agent which has a partial agonistic effect on dopamine D2 and D3 receptors. It is effective in the treatment of schizophrenia and bipolar disorder. Owing to its partial agonistic effect, hyperactivity of dopamine may occur in the mesolimbic pathway. In the literature, there are few case reports about pathological gambling due to aripiprazole. In this article, there are two case reports of patients who showed pathological gambling behaviour and alcohol abuse and who were under treatment with aripiprazole. The patient had a history of gambling in the past. With the use of aripiprazole, pathological gambling behaviour occurred quickly and with discontinuation of aripiprazole it ended completely. Aripiprazole causes pathological gambling by forming a hyperdopaminergic condition in the mesolimbic dopaminergic pathway. Aripiprazole should be recommended cautiously and carefully to patients who are impulsive and have a history of alcohol/substance abuse.