Pathological Gambling

 

This article will discuss some of the perils and pitfalls that happen when gambling gets out of hand.

 

Firstly, did you know that there is an official name for problem gambling? It is called ludomania, you might think this is a reference to the game Ludo, but the game itself is named from the Latin, ludo, which means to play, mock, tease or trick.

 

Ludomania is defined as an uncontrollable impulse to gamble, despite negative consequences to the player, or despite their desire to stop. On the professional circuit, ludomania is called compulsive gambling (and this is probably the name that you use too), although very few problem gamblers actually experience true compulsions as defined clinically.

 

Compulsive gambling will be diagnosed if gambling behaviours are harmful to the self and to others. Occasionally, problem gambling can be so severe that it becomes a clinical diagnosis, of pathological gambling, although the person must meet at least 3 of 10 key defining psychological criteria.

 

The American Psychological Association delimits clearly the differences between a gambling addiction and pathological gambling, the latter being considered an impulse control disorder, such as OCD, and thus not a true gambling problem, as the impulse could be directed towards a plethora of alternative behaviours.

 

The most commonly held definition for a gambling problem was coined by an Australian research programme, and is as follows:

 

"Problem gambling is characterised by many difficulties in limiting money and/or time spent on gambling which leads to adverse consequences for the gambler, others, or for the community".

 

PATHOLOGICAL GAMBLING:   

For the most extreme cases of problem gambling, many experts would place the disorder in the arena of mental disorders. First recognised in the DSM-III, the American classification of mental disorders that is updated every few years, the clinical diagnosis must now meet at least 3 of the criteria as set-out by DSM-IV, as follows:

 

1. Preoccupation. The subject has frequent thoughts about gambling experiences, whether past, future, or fantasy.
2. Tolerance. As with drug tolerance, the subject requires larger or more frequent wagers to experience the same "rush".
3. Withdrawal. Restlessness or irritability associated with attempts to cease or reduce gambling.
4. Escape. The subject gambles to improve mood or escape problems.
5. Chasing. The subject tries to win back gambling losses with more gambling.
6. Lying. The subject tries to hide the extent of his or her gambling by lying to family, friends, or therapists.
7. Loss of control. The person has unsuccessfully attempted to reduce gambling.
8. Illegal acts. The person has broken the law in order to obtain gambling money or recover gambling losses. This may include acts of theft, embezzlement, fraud, or forgery.
9. Risked significant relationship. The person gambles despite risking or losing a relationship, job, or other significant opportunity.
10. Bailout. The person turns to family, friends, or another third party for financial assistance as a result of gambling.

(Source- DSM-IV)

HOW MANY PEOPLE ARE AFFECTED?

The prevalence rates of problem gambling, as concluded by the United Kingdom Gambling Commission in 2007, is around 0.6% of all adults living in the UK today, with similar results being found in 1999. The highest degree of problem gambling were found in the following gambling sectors, 14.7% in spread betting, 11.2% in fixed odds betting terminals, and 9.8% in betting exchanges.

 

Research suggests that problem gamblers operate across a broad range; they rarely stick to a particular game, but risk money on any game that is available to them at that moment in time. Additionally, however, research has suggested that problem gamblers tend to prefer the faster paced games, and thus lose a lot of money in a shorter period of time, but at increased odds. For example, where a round is played quickly, such as roulette or slot machines, there is a consistent temptation to play again, and to increase bets at each round of the game. It was estimated by a leading psychologist at Rhode Island Hospital's gambling treatment programme that more than 25% of all profits obtained from gambling machines comes from problem gamblers.

 

TREATMENTS:

There is definitely hope for any individual who becomes embroiled in the world of gambling to the extent that it interferes with their everyday life.

 

The most effective treatment to date has found to be Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), indeed CBT is one of psychologies leading treatments for a large majority of psychological disorders. CBT builds on the individuals' natural ability to control impulses, helping to hinder the compulsive behaviours, and to maintain the upkeep of assertiveness and resolve.

 

As well as CBT, certain anti-depressants can be used in conjunction, the particular type of antidepressant are the SSRI, or Selective Serotonin Re-uptake Inhibitors, which appear to sustain an even mood and inhibit the compulsions to gamble.

 

Of course, as stated earlier, it is only a small minority of individuals who will go on to develop a gambling problem that seriously affects their day-to-day life. And there is a lot of help out there for anyone who is worried about their gambling habits; there are other articles on this site that may be able to help you to understand the problem more clearly.