Characteristics of geriatric patients seeking medication treatment for pathologic gambling disorder

This study was constructed to compare geriatric patients seeking medication treatment for pathologic gambling disorder (PGD) with younger pathologic gamblers. This comparison study assessed three groups with PGD according to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, fourth edition: 16 subjects over the age of 60 years, 11 subjects between the ages of 20 and 30 years, and 46 subjects between the ages of 40 and 50 years. All subjects were evaluated in terms of demographic characteristics, clinical features of PGD, and treatment history. Geriatric gamblers had a later age of onset of gambling and developed pathologic gambling over a longer period of time. Geriatric subjects were more likely to play slot machines and demonstrate less variety in their choice of gambling activity. Geriatric gamblers were also more likely to gamble secondary to boredom. Geriatric subjects were as likely as the other age groups to report slight or no response to nonpharmacologic treatment. There appear to be some differences in the clinical features of PGD among geriatric subjects, and these differences may have treatment implications.