Definition
Compulsive gambling or pathological gambling falls in the area of impulse control disorders. It is characterized by an inability to resist impulses to gamble, leading to severe personal or social consequences.
Pathological gambling affects 1-3% of adults, men more often than women. It usually begins in adolescence in men and later in women.
This behavior usually progresses from occasional to habitual gambling. The urge to gamble becomes so great that the tension can only be relieved by more gambling. Higher stakes and personal risks become involved, as well as neglect of other interests, family, and work. Severe family problems, financial ruin, and criminal behavior to support the habit may result. The cause for this behavior is unknown.
Gambling addiction is a significant problem in the United States impacting adults of all ages and their families. Until recently legal casino and sports betting were limited to two states. The traditional game of chance for seniors is bingo, a pastime that serves as a recreational event in many communities. The growth of riverboat and Indian casinos, state and national lotteries, and Internet access to off-shore sports and parlor betting, has dramatically increased access for all adults including seniors. Older adults are, perhaps, more vulnerable than other age groups given their greater dependence on fixed incomes and more limited ability to recover from gambling losses.
Symptoms
Signs of Problem Gambling:
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Increasing the frequency and the amount of money gambled
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Spending an excessive amount of time gambling at the expense of job or family time
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Being preoccupied with gambling or with obtaining money with which to gamble
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Gambling creates a special and intense pleasure, an aroused sense of being "in action"
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Continuing to gamble despite negative consequences such as large losses, or work or family problems caused by gambling
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Borrowing money to gamble, taking out secret loans, or maximizing credit card
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Bragging about wins but not talking about losses
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Frequent mood swings, higher when winning, lower when losing
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Gambling for longer periods of time or more money than originally planned
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Secretive behavior such as hiding betting slips or receipts; having mail, bills, etc., sent to work, a P.O. box or other address
Gambling is a common behavior that is not considered a disorder until the symptoms listed above are exhibited. When tracing the development of Pathological Gambling similarities to the development of Substance Dependence are apparent. Initially, many gamblers report feeling high and success leads to increased gambling which in turn might result in an overly large amount that exceeds the gambler's resources; and this leads to overconfidence and risk-taking behavior (Morrison, 1995).
Health Hazards
If not detected and treated early, compulsive gambling might lead toestrangement from family and friends as well as financial and legal difficulties
- Compulsive gambling is a chronic condition: relapse after treatment is a real risk
Causes
This behavior usually progresses from occasional gambling to habitual gambling. The urge to gamble becomes so great that the tension can only be relieved by more gambling. Higher stakes and personal risks become involved, as well as neglect of other interests, family, and work. Severe family problems, financial ruin, and criminal behavior to support the gambling habit may result. The cause for this behavior is not known. One risk factor may be excessive alcohol use, which lowers inhibitions and impairs judgment.
To understand causes of compulsive gambling or pathological gambling, it is useful to explore causes of impulse control disorders.
Self-Control
Most people have good self-control. Even when angered or jostled, most people can keep it together. But some people lose control and go into fits of rage, creating tense moments for those around them.
For someone who wants to regain control, it's important to identify how rage begins and what alternative behaviors are available. Therapists recommend these four steps for accomplishing these tasks.
Tune in to what is going on in your body that lets you know you are about to lose control.
Figure out what happened to make you feel this way.
Think about ways in which you might control yourself.
Choose the best way to control yourself, and do it.
It's unrealistic to expect someone who has lost control to calmly and deliberately go through each of these steps. So here's a technique that will help: Think back to a time when you lost control. What triggered the event? What signals did your body give off that you were about to lose it? With the answers to these two questions, you can engage in a mental exercise that can help prevent losing control in the future. Picture the same circumstance. Imagine your body giving you the same signals that you"re about to lose control. Then, imagine yourself doing something else, anything else, constructive. Imagine this over and over again until you have the alternative behavior firmly imbedded in your mind. You"ll find that the next time you begin to feel rage, your mind will already be sending you the message that you have a choice - you don't have to lose control.
Treatment
Compulsive gambling can be treated. Treatment for the person with compulsive gambling begins with the recognition of the problem.
Treatment options include individual and group psychotherapy, and self-help support groups such as Gamblers Anonymous. This is probably the most effective treatment. It is a 12-step program similar to Alcoholics Anonymous. Abstinence principles that apply to other types of addiction, such as substance abuse and alcohol dependence, are also relevant in the treatment of compulsive gambling behavior.
Recently, medications such as antidepressants have been shown beneficial in combination with psychotherapy.
Many people are able to gain control over their lives after undergoing treatment for compulsive gambling.
Prevention
Prevention of the urge to develop addictive behavior is challenging and may not always be possible. Counseling may benefit people who are prone to compulsive gambling or other addictive behavior. People who are aware that compulsive gambling affects close relatives might be at higher risk and should be especially careful.