Affective disorders among pathological gamblers seeking treatment

Area of Science:

• Psychiatry
• Psychology
• Behavioral Science

Background:

• Pathological gambling is often associated with co-occurring mental health conditions.
• Previous clinical observations suggest a high prevalence of affective disorders among individuals with gambling problems.

Purpose of the Study:

• To determine the frequency of specific affective disorders in patients undergoing treatment for pathological gambling.
• To investigate the relationship between diagnosed affective disorders and clinical outcomes such as work absence.

Main Methods:

• The Schedule for Affective Disorders and Schizophrenia was administered to 50 consecutive patients in a VA hospital's gambling treatment program.
• Diagnoses were made according to the Research Diagnostic Criteria.

Main Results:

• 76% of patients received a diagnosis of major depressive disorder.
• 38% of patients were diagnosed with hypomanic disorder.
• Major depressive disorder and schizoaffective disorder (depressed type) were significantly associated with frequent work absence due to gambling; suicidal tendencies were also prevalent.

Conclusions:

• Affective disorders, particularly major depressive disorder and hypomanic disorder, are highly prevalent in pathological gamblers seeking treatment.
• The presence of these mood disorders may exacerbate gambling-related problems, including functional impairment and increased risk of self-harm.