Psychological test findings on pathological gamblers in treatment

A sample of 23 veterans entering the Pathological Gambling Treatment Program at the Veterans Administration Medical Center in Miami, Florida, were administered a battery of tests including the following: Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale (WAIS), Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory (MMPI), Edwards Personal Preference Schedule (EPPS), and the Personal Orientation Inventory (POI). Findings on the intelligence testing indicated that on the average the pathological gamblers were of bright normal intelligence with a mean WAIS Full Scale IQ of 116.78, mean Verbal IQ of 119.30, and a mean Performance IQ of 111.30. Group profile results on the MMPI showed significant mean clinical scale elevations on two of the nine clinical scales: Scale 2, Depression; and Scale 4, Psychopathic Deviate. Group profile results on the EPPS indicated relatively high scores on the variables of achievement, exhibition, autonomy, dominance, and heterosexuality; and relatively low scores on the variables of deference, order, and endurance. Group profile results on the POI were essentially within normal limits with a tendency toward time incompetency noted, suggesting difficulty living fully in the present here and now.