Psychopathology in pathological gamblers seeking treatment

Area of Science:

• Psychiatry
• Clinical Psychology
• Behavioral Science

Background:

• Pathological gambling is associated with significant psychiatric distress.
• Previous research indicates high rates of psychiatric symptoms in pathological gamblers.
• A comprehensive assessment using structured interviews for Axis I and Axis II disorders was lacking.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate psychiatric comorbidity in pathological gamblers using structured diagnostic interviews.
• To compare the prevalence of DSM-III-R Axis I and Axis II disorders in pathological gamblers versus controls.
• To explore gender differences in psychiatric comorbidity and histories of abuse among pathological gamblers.

Main Methods:

• Administered the Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-III-R (SCID-P, SCID-II) to 40 pathological gamblers and 64 controls.
• Assessed lifetime prevalence of Axis I (e.g., mood, substance use, anxiety disorders) and Axis II (personality disorders) psychopathology.
• Compared comorbidity rates between pathological gamblers and controls, and analyzed gender differences within the gambler group.

Main Results:

• Pathological gamblers showed significantly higher lifetime rates of Axis I psychopathology (92%) compared to controls.
• No significant difference in Axis II (personality disorders) prevalence was found between gamblers and controls (25%).
• Female gamblers reported higher rates of anxiety disorders and histories of physical/sexual abuse compared to male gamblers, with no gender differences in affective, substance use, or personality disorders.

Conclusions:

• Pathological gambling is strongly associated with a high lifetime prevalence of Axis I psychiatric disorders.
• The findings underscore the importance of screening for comorbid psychiatric conditions in pathological gamblers.
• Further research into gambler typologies and the impact of abuse histories on gambling behavior is warranted.