Gambling Addiction (cont.)

NAADAC - The Association for Addiction Professionals
1001 N. Fairfax St., Suite 201
Alexandria, VA 22314
Phone: 1-800-548-0497
Fax: 1-800-377-1136

UCLA Gambling Studies Program
http://www.uclagamblingprogram.org

Massachusetts Council on Compulsive Gambling
1-800-426-1234
http://www.masscompulsivegambling.org

• Compulsive gambling affects 2%-5% of Americans, can involve a variety of ways and places to bet, and symptoms may differ somewhat between males and females, as well as teenagers versus adults.
• Although men tend to develop a gambling addiction at a higher rate and at younger ages than women, women now make up more than one-quarter of all compulsive gamblers, and women's symptoms tend to worsen faster once compulsive gambling develops.
• As opposed to pathological gambling, problem gambling involves more than one but less than five symptoms of compulsive gambling.
• Although direct causes of compulsive gambling are unusual, the manic episodes associated with bipolar disorder and some medications that treat Parkinson's disease and restless leg syndrome have been associated with the development of this disorder.
• Risk factors for pathological gambling include schizophrenia, mood problems, antisocial personality disorder, alcohol, or cocaine addiction.
• The diagnosis of compulsive gambling involves identifying at least five symptoms that indicate poor impulse control when it comes to gambling, as well as ruling out other potential causes of the behaviors.
• As with any mental-health condition, accurate diagnosis of gambling addiction requires a complete physical and psychological evaluation, including a mental-status examination and appropriate laboratory tests to rule out other possible causes of the symptoms that are being observed.
• The treatment of compulsive gambling usually uses more than one approach, including psychotherapy, medication, financial counseling, support groups, 12-step programs, and self-help techniques.
• Although pathological gambling may resolve with time on its own in many individuals, the devastating effects it usually has on the person's financial, family, legal, and mental-health status indicates that treatment should be attempted anyone who is motivated to get help for this disorder.

REFERENCES:

Abler, B., R. Hahlbrock, A. Unrath, et al. "At Risk for Pathological Gambling: Imaging Neural Reward Processing Under Chronic Dopamine Agonists." Brain 132.9 (2009): 2396-2402.

American Psychiatric Association. Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fourth Edition, Treatment Revision. American Psychiatric Publishing: Washington, D.C., 2000.

Cunningham-Williams, R.M., R.A. Grucza, L.B. Cottler, et al. "Prevalence and Predictors of Pathological Gambling: Results From the St. Louis Personality, Health and Lifestyle (SLPHL) Study." Journal of Psychiatric Research 39.4 July 2005: 377-390.

Dodd, M.L., K.J. Klos, J.H. Bower, Y.E. Geda, et al. "Pathological Gambling Caused by Drugs Used to Treat Parkinson Disease." Archives of Neurology 62 (2005).

Fong, T.W. "Pathological Gambling: Update on Assessment and Treatment." Addictive Disorders 27 Aug. 2009.

George, S., and V. Murali. "Pathological Gambling: An Overview of Assessment and Treatment." Advances in Psychiatric Treatment 11 (2005): 450-456.

Grant, J.E., and S.W. Kim. "Medication Management of Pathological Gambling." Minnesota Medicine 89.9 Sept. 2006: 44-48.

Hall, G.W., N.J. Carriero, R.Y. Takushi, et al. "Pathological Gambling Among Cocaine-Dependent Outpatients." American Journal of Psychiatry 157 July 2000: 1127-1133.

Korn, D.A., and H.J. Shaffer. "Practice Guidelines for Treating Gambling-Related Problems: An Evidence-Based Treatment Guide for Clinicians." Massachusetts Council on Compulsive Gambling Jan. 2004.

Ledgerwood, D.M., J. Weinstock, B.J. Morasco, and N.M. Petry. "Clinical Features and Treatment Prognosis of Pathological Gamblers With and Without Recent Gambling-Related Illegal Behavior." Journal of the American Academy of Psychiatry and the Law 35.3 (2007): 294-301.

Leung, K.S., and L.B. Cottler. "Treatment of Pathological Gambling." Current Opinion in Psychiatry 22.1 Jan. 2009: 69-74.

Moreyra, P., A. Ibanez, J. Saiz-Ruiz, et al. "Review of the Phenomenology, Etiology and Treatment of Pathological Gambling." German Journal of Psychiatry 3 (2000): 37-52.

Nower, L., and A. Blaszcznski. "Binge Gambling: A Neglected Concept." International Gambling Studies 3.1 (2003): 23-35.

Okuda, M., I. Balan, N.M. Petry, et al. "Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy for Pathological Gambling: Cultural Considerations." American Journal of Psychiatry 166 Dec. 2009: 1325-1330.

Petry, N.M. "Internet Gambling: An Emerging Concern in Family Practice Medicine?" Family Practice 23.4 (2006): 421-426.

Petry, N.M, and C. Armentano. "Prevalence, Assessment and Treatment of Pathological Gambling: A Review." Psychiatric Services 50 Aug. 1999: 1021-1027.

Potenza, M.N., M.A. Steinberg, S.D. McLaughlin, et al. "Gender-Related Differences in the Characteristics of Problem Gamblers Using a Gambling Helpline." American Journal of Psychiatry 158 Sept. 200: 1500-1505.

Slutske, W.S. "Natural Recovery and Treatment-Seeking in Pathological Gambling: Results of Two U.S. National Surveys." American Journal of Psychiatry 163 Feb. 2006: 297-302.

Tsoi, S. "Academics Discuss Issues Concerning Gambling and Asian American Community Health." Sampan 19 Mar. 2009: 40.

Westermeyer, J., J. Canive, J. Garrard, et al. "Lifetime Prevalence of Pathological Gambling Among American Indian and Hispanic American Veterans." American Journal of Public Health 95.5 May 2005: 860-866.

Last Editorial Review: 4/7/2010 12:10:34 PM

Source: MedicineNet.com
http://www.medicinenet.com/gambling_addiction/article.htm