Pathological Gambling
From WikiLectures
Belongs to the group of F63: Habit and impulse disorder
Definition[edit | edit source]
- Internal compulsion to gamble despite negative consequences
- try to stop often times without success
Epidemiology[edit | edit source]
- m > w, can happen in any age group
- Often occurs in conjunction with other psychiatric disorders (antisocial personality disorder, depressive disorder, bipolar disorder, and substance use disorders)
Etiology[edit | edit source]
- multifactorial (i.e. genetic, neurochemical abnormalities, environment)
Diagnosis according to the clinical criteria of the DSM V[edit | edit source]
- need 4 or more over a 12 month period
- Criteria
- Using increasing amounts of money to gamble
- Relying on others for financial support to maintain habit
- Restlessness or irritability when attempting to stop gambling
- Constant preoccupation with gambling
- Continuous gambling in an attempt to undo losses (“chasing one's losses”)
- Jeopardizing relationships or careers as a result of gambling
- Numerous failed attempts to quit gambling
- Lying to others to conceal the extent of gambling
- Gambling when feeling helpless, guilty, anxious or depressed
DDx:[edit | edit source]
- excessive gambling by manic patients (F30.-)
- gambling and betting NOS (Z72.6)
- gambling in dissocial personality disorder (F60.2)
Treatment[edit | edit source]
- Psychotherapy > Pharmacotherapy
- Gamblers Anonymous
- CBT
- Pharmacotherapy is being researched
- Treat psychiatric conditions (e.g. bipolar disorder)
Prognosis:[edit | edit source]
- 1/3 recover without treatment
