Gambling Disorder
Gambling disorder involves repeated problematic gambling behavior that causes significant problems or distress. It is also called gambling addiction or compulsive gambling.
Cluster Number:
Wiki Number: W087
Diagnosis: Gambling Disorder-Problem Gambling
US Patients: 6/10 of 1%
World Patients:
Sex Ratio: M+;W
Age Onset:
Brain Area: lower level of norepinephrine, which is secreted during gambling stress and thrills; less serotonin or opioids
Symptoms: Gambler uses increasing amounts of money, from others, preoccupied, done often when distressed to “make up losses”
Progression: with lying, losing significant relationships and opportunities, is irritable and refuses to quit, may have substance abuse
Causes: impulsivity, seeking to activivate brain reward systems so defined as addiction, vs. OCD based on brain’s fear mechanisms
Medications: antidepressants in Britain, but not approved in the US by the FDA; lithium
Therapies: “Gamblers’ Anonymous”; CBT-metacognitive training; self-excluson-enforced by face-recognition cameras in casinos
Youtube Video: 10 Signs You Are Addicted to Gambling:
Stop Casino and Online Gambling
Amazon or Library Book:
The Gambling Addiction Recovery Workbook
Click the book to link or buy from Amazon.
Support Group: smartrecovery.org (The website includes a directory of area meetings.) or Gamblers Anonymous; 888-987-1784
4 CURRENT ARTICLES
FROM PUBMED
The world-wide medical research
reports chosen for each diagnosis
Clicking each title opens the
PubMed article’s summary-abstract.
- Maternal education and prenatal smoking associations with adolescent executive function are substantially confounded by geneticsby Lucas C Perry on January 21, 2025
Twin studies have suggested extremely high estimates of heritability for adolescent executive function, with no substantial contributions from shared environment. However, developmental psychology research has found significant correlations between executive function outcomes and elements of the environment that would be shared in twins. It is unclear whether these seemingly contradictory findings are best explained by genetic confounding in developmental studies or limitations in twin studies,...
- Dopaminergic and Glutamatergic Mechanisms in Addiction: Assessing the Therapeutic Promise of Memantine and Galantamine for Maintenance Treatment: A Reviewby Qutub Jamali on January 20, 2025
Addiction comes in various forms and can be related to substances like cocaine, opioids, alcohol, cannabis, amphetamine, and nicotine, as well as behaviors like gambling or sex addiction. The impact of addiction places increased economic and medical burdens on society. Currently, the management of addiction is more focused on symptomatic relief rather than targeting the reinforcing mechanisms of dependence on addictive substances and behaviors. The aim of this review is to identify the specific...
- A review of Returned and Services League venues operating electronic gambling machines in Victoria, Australia and the level of funding contributed to veteransby Louise Francis on January 20, 2025
CONCLUSIONS & IMPLICATIONS FOR PUBLIC HEALTH: This research demonstrates that the provision of charitable services derived from gambling revenue is very modest amongst Australia's principal veteran's organisation. Deficiencies in harm prevention and minimisation reinforce the need for changes to community benefit schemes. Regulatory reforms emphasising the vulnerability of veterans to gambling harm are required to ensure that this population is better protected.
- Scrutinizing the Gateway Relationship Between Gaming and Gambling Disorder: Scoping Review With a Focus on the Southeast Asian Regionby Kristiana Siste on January 17, 2025
CONCLUSIONS: Overall, there is early evidence of linkage between gambling and gaming, through shared structural and biopsychosocial characteristics. This association possibly extends beyond disparate comorbidity, as such engagement in one activity might influence the risk of partaking in the other behavior. The field requires further longitudinal data to determine the directionality and significant precipitating factors of the gateway effect, particularly evidence from Asia.