Pathologic Gambling

by Jerry "Jet" Whittaker

January 27, 2006

What is pathologic gambling?

People who are pathologic gamblers can't control their impulses to gamble as they end up losing a lot of money and get into financial trouble while it affects about 10 million Americans. Gambling usually causes problems with their work, school or relationships and in spite of these problems; a pathologic gambler will continue to gamble.

Men or women, married or unmarried of any age can be pathologic gamblers. Along with pathologic gambling they can come down to depression, start drinking or even taking drugs and pathologic gamblers may also think about committing suicide.

What causes pathologic gambling and what are the results?

Gambling is betting or can say quick way of earning money and many experts think that pathologic gambling is an addiction because of the rush you feel when you win and lose money. Here your experiences and personality type also play a large part but pathologic gambling may be hard to treat because you may not want to tell others about your problem.

Since pathologic gambling is likely to be increasing in incidence, it is important for family physicians to identify and treat this condition as a psychiatric disorder. It is also important to recognize the high incidence of comorbidity of alcohol abuse and depression in gamblers as approximately 12.9 percent of heavy drinkers had one or more gambling-related problem compared with 5 percent of nondrinkers. Eighteen percent of persons with probable alcohol dependence had at least one gambling-related problem while ten percent of heavy drinkers were probable pathologic gamblers.

76 percent of pathologic gamblers have a major depressive disorder while with recurrent depressive episodes likely to occur in 28 percent of pathologic gamblers. Because of this high correlation, the coexistence of depression and gambling may help discriminate pathologic from nonpathologic gambling but however, the severity of depression does not correlate with the amount of money spent on gambling.  Suicide risk is also high and it’s yet increasing in pathologic gamblers--Las Vegas, Nev., and Atlantic City, N.J., have some of the highest suicide rates in the nation.

Can pathologic gambling be treated and if so how?

Pathologic gambling can be treated and here your family doctor can help you as well as your loved ones. The first step of treatment is that you have to admit you have a gambling problem by telling your family and friends. Secondly you can join Gamblers Anonymous, a self-help group for problem gamblers and even your family and friends can join Gam-Anon. This is a group that helps families as well as friends deal with a loved one who is a pathologic gambler and your doctor can work with you and your family during your treatment but it's very important to complete the treatment program.

Your doctor may refer you to a mental health expert for more help and this help may involve talking about your gambling problem or it may also include advice about how to understand your gambling urge and how to handle it. If depression or substance abuse is present then treatment for it may also include.

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