My name is Monja Hoven. I am a PhD student at the Psychiatry Department of the Amsterdam UMC, location AMC (UvA). Within the AIAR I conduct research in the research line ‘fundamental research‘ into the role of dopamine in gambling addiction and metacognition (‘certainty’). We investigate dopamine production in people with gambling problems by means of PET scans. This allows us to investigate the relationship between dopamine and feelings of overconfidence. The results of this study may provide clues as to whether dopaminergic medications might be helpful for some people with gambling disorder (and for whom). In addition, it will become clear whether confidence is an important factor in the severity of gambling addiction and cognitive flexibility. Ultimately, it can be determined to what extent (dopamine-related) confidence and cognitive flexibility are predictors of treatment outcome.
