Gambling DisordersGambling Disorders
Gambling involves betting or staking something of value with awareness of risk and hope of gain on an uncertain game or contest, with consciousness of risk and an expectation of gain in mind. Gambling may be legal or illegal and the act itself can evoke various emotions and behaviors which are both positive and detrimental to society as a whole. Some individuals who gamble can develop gambling disorders recognized by the American Psychiatric Association in its Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders since 1980 – this disorder may manifest as compulsive gambling, pathological gambling or intermittent explosive disorder symptoms.
Gambling dates back centuries. Early forms involved placing bets on events with an element of chance associated with organized competition, like sports and horse races. Such activities typically required large financial investments and commercial establishments to organize and present them; nowadays however, anyone can bet on virtually any event possible with various betting instruments including dice, bingo balls, slots, scratch tickets cards and video games.
While no consensus has been reached on what constitutes gambling activities, most scholars, psychiatrists, and treatment care clinicians generally acknowledge some forms of gambling to be harmful. Some individuals who engage in these activities experience various harmful side-effects that range from family and work problems to reduced mathematical skills, distortion of perceptions, increased impulsivity, impaired self-control issues and moral turpitude – leading many people to seek treatment for gambling disorders.
The DSM-IV-TR provides detailed descriptions of several gambling disorders. Pathological gambling, one of the more severe forms, affects at least one percent of people and leads to serious psychological, social, and economic harms. People living with this condition become preoccupied with gambling; spending becomes out-of-control; they continue gambling even in spite of negative consequences; they lie about their gambling activities or avoid discussing it with others.
Although the DSM-IV-TR indicates that gambling disorder may be treated through therapy, its efficacy varies. Cognitive behavioral therapy, psychodynamic therapy, group therapy and medications such as antidepressants and antianxiety drugs have all been used to address pathological gambling.
Psychological treatments alone cannot fully prevent or mitigate gambling-related harms; other interventions, however, such as advertising restrictions and promotions; central account registration to enable loss limits; restrictions on gambling venue accessibility; as well as laws to prohibit underage gambling can help as can laws that forbid selling lottery tickets, poker chips and similar items to minors.
Gambling was once seen as immoral and illegal, yet its prevalence is growing throughout the world, and global revenues from gambling are estimated at $700 billion by 2028. Gambling can cause significant harms for individuals, families and societies – such as financial stress, family problems, addiction and suicide; it can also wreak havoc by diverting household funds away from essential items and indulging in unhealthy eating and drinking patterns that lead to increased costs in health.