[Gambling Disorder: epidemiology, diagnosis, interpretative models and intervention]

Area of Science:

• Psychiatry
• Neuroscience
• Psychology

Background:

• Gambling disorder prevalence has significantly increased recently.
• It is frequently underdiagnosed, hindering early intervention and treatment.
• The DSM-5 reclassified it to Substance-Related and Addictive Disorders to improve diagnosis and research.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review current assessment techniques for gambling disorder.
• To explore psychosocial and neurobiological factors contributing to pathological gambling.
• To outline effective treatment strategies for gambling disorder.

Main Methods:

• Literature review of assessment tools.
• Analysis of research on etiological factors (psychosocial and neurobiological).
• Synthesis of evidence-based treatment approaches.

Main Results:

• Various assessment techniques exist for identifying gambling disorder.
• Multiple psychosocial and neurobiological factors influence its development.
• A range of treatment strategies are available, targeting different aspects of the disorder.

Conclusions:

• Improved diagnostic criteria and research are crucial for addressing gambling disorder.
• Understanding contributing factors aids in developing targeted interventions.
• Comprehensive treatment approaches are necessary for managing pathological gambling effectively.