Gambling Psychological Disorder
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Compulsive gambling, known formally as pathological gambling, is a psychiatric disorder that involves a persistent fixation with gambling that continues in the face of seriously negative personal or social consequences. Along with a varied range of other conditions that feature impulsive behavior, it’s officially categorized as an “impulse disorder not otherwise specified.” Current guidelines group all compulsive gamblers together. However, according to the results of a study published in 2010 in the Canadian Journal of Psychiatry, compulsive gamblers actually belong to one of four different sub-types, two of which include features of certain personality-based mental illnesses called personality disorders.
Gambling Disorder Click card to see definition 👆 Formerly, part of 'Impulse Control Disorders'; Associate with substance addictions and characterized as a prototypical example of 'behavioral addiction' Click again to see term 👆. People with a gambling addiction frequently have characteristics similar to those with antisocial, borderline, histrionic and narcissistic personality disorders, the researchers reported in the.
Compulsive Gambling Basics
The American Psychiatric Association, a professional organization responsible for creating the standard definitions for mental illness in the United States, recognizes 10 distinct symptoms in compulsive or pathological gamblers. These symptoms include a fixation on gambling that persists outside of actual gambling situations, a repeated inability to control one’s gambling behaviors, increased moodiness when not involved in gambling, repeated lying about gambling activities, increased excitement when betting higher and higher amounts of money, a recurring need for help to recover from gambling debts, a rapid return to gambling after a big loss, use of gambling as a “mood lifter,” commission of crimes to sustain gambling activities and levels of gambling involvement that permanently damage one’s social or personal standing. In order to receive a diagnosis, any given individual must have a minimum of five of these symptoms.
As is true with a number of other non-substance-based impulsive or compulsive behaviors, mental health professionals increasingly view pathological gambling through the lens of mental/biological addiction. In the initial stages of his or her involvement, a given individual may feel entirely free to choose how he or she behaves in response to the gambling urge. However, over time, that sense of freedom and voluntary action starts to fade and gets replaced by an involuntary need for gambling that gradually supersedes all other relevant priorities. Specific problems that can increase the probability of a shift from voluntary to pathological gambling behaviors include substance addiction and the presence of antisocial personality disorder or various forms of schizophrenia.
Types of Compulsive Gamblers
Since the introduction of pathological gambling as a form of defined mental illness, a key feature of diagnosing the condition has been the identification of an inability to control the gambling impulse. However, according to the authors of the study published in the Canadian Journal of Psychiatry, this criterion does not accurately reflect the mental status of all people who otherwise meet the criteria for a pathological gambling diagnosis. Instead, after examining the psychological profiles of more than 1,100 compulsive gamblers, they concluded that people affected by the disorder actually fall into one of four separate personality-based sub-types.
According to the study authors’ classifications, people with Type 1 pathological gambling have personality traits that resemble the traits in people who have a condition called schizotypal personality disorder. People with this disorder are well oriented toward reality, but exhibit dysfunctional degrees of emotional disorganization, emotional instability and impulsivity; typically these traits first arise early on in life. People with Type 2 pathological gambling have personality traits associated with another condition called schizoid personality disorder. This condition closely resembles schizotypal personality disorder; however, unlike schizotypal individuals, schizoid individuals are not bothered by any personal or social disruptions caused by their illness.
People with Type 3 pathological gambling (as defined by the scheme presented in the Canadian Journal of Psychiatry) gamble out of an impulsive desire/need for a “rush” of sensation; typically, they don’t have symptoms of any particular sort of personality disorder. People with Type 4 pathological gambling also have no traits that correspond with a specific personality disorder; instead, they have what’s known as a “globally adaptive” personality, which allows them to change their behaviors according to their local surroundings.
Significance
The authors of the study in the Canadian Journal of Psychiatry believe that only people with Type 2 pathological gambling have a combination of personality disorder-related traits and impulsive or uncontrolled behavior that make them truly “pathological” (that is to say, extremely or excessively abnormal in some way). According to their findings, other people classified as pathological gamblers have definite, identifiable problems, but don’t rise to the same level of mental illness. Despite the results of this study, guidelines for compulsive or pathological gambling remain unchanged in 2013 and do not reflect the sort of symptom breakdown undertaken by the study’s authors.
As march continues, so do does our focus on Problem Gambling Awareness Month. We want to share the importance of learning more about problem gambling as a mental health diagnosable disorder and connecting people in need to care.
Importance of Raising Awareness
Even with all the hard work of the many professionals and agencies across New York State, the US and around the world, many people are still not aware that problem gambling can lead to a diagnosable, treatable mental health disorder called gambling disorder. That was a mouthful! Let’s break that down.
As of 2013, the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5) included gambling disorder as a diagnosable disorder. This means that there is enough supporting evidence through research and studies, that gambling disorder is not a lack of willpower. Instead, gambling disorder is a mental health condition that can be helped with professional treatment.
Why is this important?
As a mental health disorder, we now know that people who struggle with gambling problems are not weak. They struggle with their gambling just as a person can struggle with drinking. Both the person struggling with gambling disorder and the person struggling with alcoholism are struggling with addiction. Addictions are brain diseases that can be identified and treated by trained professionals.
The fact that gambling disorder can be diagnosed and treated means that we should be connecting those people who are struggling to the help they need. Especially since options for help are becoming more available throughout New York State.
Gambling Disorder is a Mental Illness
Two-thirds of gamblers surveyed reported that their mental health suffered as a result of their gambling. (Nash et al, 2018). In fact, the majority of those experiencing disordered gambling have a lifetime history of a psychiatric disorder. In addition to struggling with gambling:
Psychological Disorders Definition
- Over 60% also have a personality disorder,
- Over 49% also have a mood disorder,
- Over 41% also have an anxiety disorder(Petry et al, 2005), and
- Nearly 37% of those experiencing a gambling problem and 50% of those with disordered gambling have had suicidal thoughts. Over 17% of these individuals have attempted suicide (Moghaddam et al, 2015).
Problem gambling does not just affect the individual who is gambling, but also his or her loved ones.
Supporting Those in Need
Every person struggling with gambling problems affects at least 10 people closest to them. In one study over 90% of those affected by someone else’s gambling behavior reported emotional distress (Nash et al, 2018). So, it only makes sense to offer support to anyone affected by problems that are rooted in gambling. Therefore, there is support available for people struggling with problem gambling, as well as loved ones who are adversely affected by someone else’s gambling.
People who struggle with problem gambling can reach out to their local Problem Gambling Resource Center by visiting NYProblemagamblingHELP.org. People who call are greeted by a resource professional. This professional can assist the caller with understanding the available local resources and services. The services could include an inpatient care center, a one on one clinician, self-help groups, etc. They also offer informational resources for callers to learn more.
Information and Resources
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Additional to reaching out to your local Problem Gambling Resource Center, the New York Council and Problem Gambling (NYCPG) has created a Family Toolkit. This toolkit offers resources and information to learn more about problem gambling. It also covers ways to take care of yourself, and resources to discuss the effects of problem gambling.
As Problem Gambling Awareness Month continues, please feel free to look through the Know The Odds website for information and resources. You can also follow the NYCPG on Facebook and Twitter to be connected with additional statistics and resources as we continue to help people negatively affected by gambling problems.