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 classified into three groups: patients with current GD, patients with GD in remission, and a control group without GD. Implicit emotional expressions were evaluated through a serious videogame (Playmancer) and explicit emotions were measured through self-reports. Patients in the current GD group had, compared to the remission and control groups, lower levels of implicit emotion expression and higher levels of explicit emotion expression. The patients in GD remission group endorsed better emotion regulation capacity in comparison to patients with current GD. We conclude that differences in emotion expression profiles (such as anger and anxiety) should be considered both in the development of screening and diagnostic measures and in the planning of prevention and treatment programs.

行为成瘾与对风险选择的偏见情绪反应有关。但是，很少有研究分析显性和隐性情绪表达在赌博障碍（GD）中的作用。这项初步研究旨在检查寻求治疗的GD患者的情绪调节。样本包括n = 35名参与者分为三组：当前有GD的患者，缓解期GD的患者和无GD的对照组。通过严肃的电子游戏（Playmancer）评估内隐的情感表达，并通过自我报告来评估内隐的情感。与缓解和对照组相比，当前GD组的患者隐性情绪表达水平较低，而显性情绪表达水平较高。与目前的GD患者相比，GD缓解组的患者具有更好的情绪调节能力。我们得出结论，在开发筛查和诊断措施以及规划预防和治疗计划时，都应考虑情感表达方式的差异（例如愤怒和焦虑）。