Gambling Disorders
Gambling is wagering something of value on an event whose outcome is largely determined by chance. It has been practiced in virtually every society since prerecorded history, and has become a part of many customs and rites of passage. It can include anything from betting on a sporting event to putting money on an outcome of a dice roll or a card game, as long as the risk and potential profit are recognized.
It is estimated that 2 million Americans have a gambling problem, and that many of them are unable to control their behavior, even though it negatively affects personal, family, social, and work relationships. In some cases, gambling has led to homelessness, unemployment, bankruptcies, and other serious problems. Although the vast majority of people who gamble do so responsibly, a small percentage develop gambling disorders, which may be characterized by denial, concealment, and lying to family members and others. These individuals are at high risk for developing depression, anxiety, and other psychiatric illnesses.
People who develop a gambling disorder are usually younger and more likely to be male, but women are also becoming increasingly susceptible to this disorder. Vulnerability is also higher in low-income populations, where the opportunity to win large amounts of money can be particularly enticing. The most common gambling disorder is compulsive or pathological gambling, which involves uncontrollable urges to gamble despite negative consequences for the person and his or her family.
Researchers have used different methods to study gambling, including behavioral observation and questionnaires, brain imaging, and blood measures of reward-related chemicals. They have found that some people are genetically predisposed to develop a gambling disorder, and that the likelihood of developing a gambling problem increases with age. They have also found that certain psychiatric medications can help treat gambling disorders.
A number of treatment approaches have been developed for gambling addiction, including cognitive-behavioral therapy and relapse prevention programs. Relapse prevention training teaches people to recognize warning signs and triggers that could lead them to gamble, and helps them develop coping strategies to prevent relapse. Other treatments, such as a combination of family and marriage therapy with career or credit counseling, can help address specific issues that have been created by an individual’s gambling habit and lay the foundation for repairing those relationships.
In light of new research, the DSM now considers that pathological gambling should be considered an addiction in its own right. This new nomenclature is important because it will bring greater consistency to the way that psychologists, psychiatrists, and other clinicians discuss gambling-related issues. Currently, these experts tend to frame questions about gambling from different paradigms or world views, depending on their discipline, experience, and special interests. This diversity of perspectives has hindered the development of a comprehensive, agreed-upon nomenclature for the study of gambling.
Gambling is wagering something of value on an event whose outcome is largely determined by chance. It has been practiced in virtually every society since prerecorded history, and has become a part of many customs and rites of passage. It can include anything from betting on a sporting event to putting money on an outcome…