TY - JOUR
T1 - Demographic and clinical features of 131 adult pathological gamblers
AU - Grant, J. E.
AU - Kim, Suck W
PY - 2001
Y1 - 2001
N2 - Background: This study was constructed to detail the demographic and phenomenological features of pathological gamblers. Method: One hundred thirty-one subjects with DSM-IV pathological gambling were administered a semistructured interview to elicit demographic data and information on the phenomenology, age at onset, course, associated features, treatment history, and response to treatment of the disorder, followed by the Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-IV. Results: Seventy-eight female (59.5%) and 53 male (40.5%) (mean ± SD age = 47.7 ± 11.0 years) pathological gamblers were studied. The majority of subjects (55.7%) were married. Subjects gambled a mean of 16 hours per week. Slot machines (65%), cards (33%), and blackjack (26%) were the most popular forms of gambling. The mean length of time between first gambling behavior and onset of pathological gambling was 6.3 ± 8.9 years. Approximately one half (46%) of the subjects reported that television, radio, and billboard advertisements were a trigger to gamble. Most gamblers had severe financial, social, or legal problems. The majority of the subjects (58%) had at least 1 first-degree relative who also exhibited symptoms of problematic gambling behavior. Conclusion: Pathological gambling is a disabling disorder associated with high rates of social and legal difficulties.
AB - Background: This study was constructed to detail the demographic and phenomenological features of pathological gamblers. Method: One hundred thirty-one subjects with DSM-IV pathological gambling were administered a semistructured interview to elicit demographic data and information on the phenomenology, age at onset, course, associated features, treatment history, and response to treatment of the disorder, followed by the Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-IV. Results: Seventy-eight female (59.5%) and 53 male (40.5%) (mean ± SD age = 47.7 ± 11.0 years) pathological gamblers were studied. The majority of subjects (55.7%) were married. Subjects gambled a mean of 16 hours per week. Slot machines (65%), cards (33%), and blackjack (26%) were the most popular forms of gambling. The mean length of time between first gambling behavior and onset of pathological gambling was 6.3 ± 8.9 years. Approximately one half (46%) of the subjects reported that television, radio, and billboard advertisements were a trigger to gamble. Most gamblers had severe financial, social, or legal problems. The majority of the subjects (58%) had at least 1 first-degree relative who also exhibited symptoms of problematic gambling behavior. Conclusion: Pathological gambling is a disabling disorder associated with high rates of social and legal difficulties.
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=0035658160&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=0035658160&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.4088/JCP.v62n1207
DO - 10.4088/JCP.v62n1207
M3 - Article
C2 - 11780876
AN - SCOPUS:0035658160
SN - 0160-6689
VL - 62
SP - 957
EP - 962
JO - Journal of Clinical Psychiatry
JF - Journal of Clinical Psychiatry
IS - 12
ER -