Gambling is an activity common across cultures taking place in a designated place, for some individuals the activity develops into gambling disorders (GD). GD is a psychiatric condition mainly characterized by recurrent and persistent maladaptive gambling behavioral patterns. Gambling is mostly associated to men than women. Pre-industrialized and non-Western societies define gambling as an engagement that typically is in to divine the future; promotes gathering and favor of supernatural forces believed to have an influence on warfare, harvests, sickness, rain, among other events; facilitates socialization, trade, and competition with other groups (Williams et al., 2017). In contrast, in Western society gambling is an engaged activity between individuals for the sole purposes of winning money and/or for recreation. Recently, modern societies have seen gambling as a commercial enterprise as the provision for dedicated gambling companies and venues are eminent in ensuring that consistent advantage and profit is attained for all commercial providers. The modern classic forms of gambling are instant win tickets, bingo, lotteries, electronic gambling machines (EGMs), horse race betting, and casino table games and many others. Gambling is an entertainment where staking money is done on uncertain events that are mostly driven by chance, with the potential of winning. Ultimately, gambling is a certainty where lose over time is experienced by a group of individuals because it is intended to serve as a recreational activity hence, is not an investment activity (Williams et al., 2017).
DSM-5 Diagnostic Criteria has classified GD as a substance-related disorder. This was possible by using the number of criteria met in determining the severity of GD thus, mirrored the system of classification that was used for substance use disorders. Indicators such as money lost during gambling as a percentage of impairment, earning, or comorbidity potentially operationalize GD’s clinical severity. Individuals exhibiting feelings of distress such as depressed, guilty, helpless, and anxious thus, gambles; “chasing” one’s losses; making repeated unsuccessful efforts to cut back, control, or stop gambling; has lost significant job, relationship, educational or career opportunities due to gambling; becomes restless or irritable when attempting to stop or cut down on gambling; and increases the amounts of gambling in an attempt to achieve desired excitement among others. The stated indications should be in a 12-month period. The behavior of gambling is specified if it becomes episodic, persistent, in early remission, mild, moderate, and severe, not by a manic episode. It is by using a simple count of criteria, individuals were able to determine the severity level of a gambler. For example mild gambling was between four to five criteria, moderate is six to seven, and severe is eight or nine (Grant, Odlaug & Chamberlain, 2017).
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Public health frameworks assert that gambling disorder results in adverse consequences affecting communities, families, and individuals. The consequences includes and not limited to family and relationship dysfunction, impaired mental health, employment difficulties, physical health, legal issues, and financial problems. Risk factors are described as those conditions associated with problems of gambling in a cross-sectional study of young people. This includes male gender, early gambling onset, low conformity, substance use, emotional problems, poor academic performance, parental substance abuse, and gambling marketing among others (Blinn-Pike, Worthy & Jonkman, 2010). Risk factors associated to gambling disorder include frequent use of alcohol, depression, sensation seeking, and violence among others.
The warnings signs of gambling disorder include having disrupted sleep due to thoughts of gambling. Gambling becomes an escape to worry, trouble and boredom. Celebrations are done by engaging in gambling activities. Individuals who have self-destructive thoughts due to problems resulting from gambling as a warning sign. The progression of gambling results in noticed personality change in a loved one. Items of value in possession not being accounted for by a gambler are another warning sign. The first step to helping such people will entail encouraging them to ask questions. Later, they will need to gather information and conduct research on which type of help will be most appropriate for their prevailing situation. The information gather will serve as a starting point for them to serve as a healing process.
In Columbus, GA treatment options for gambling disorder include treatment programs that have patients take some form of medication or psychotherapy. Medications include some form of anti-depressant. Pathological gamblers with mood swings use Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors (SSRR’s). Gambling treatment works effectively for pathological gamblers and respond well to cognitive-behavioral treatments (CBT). Grambling disorder treatment has managed to go through rigorous empirical evaluation. Brief treatments have not been successful when it comes to GD issues thus, by combining behavioral and cognitive components, contemporary treatment models of GD have become successful. As such, the treatment approaches laid down by several centers include components like correcting cognitive distortions; educational efforts that are designed mainly to teach gamblers more about the games of chance; relapse prevention, social skills training; and problem-solving skills training (Whelan, Steenbergh & Meyers, ).
There are various treatment centers such as Talbott Recovery Columbus that offers GD patients a comprehensive range of services. They address substance abuse and co-occurring psychiatric disorders through their addiction treatment and substance abuse programs. These programs are able to fit into the unique needs of every patient through the use of a medical model and individualized substance abuse treatment plans. The center ensures that the whole account of an individual is put into consideration by offering a dual diagnosis program. Counseling is also offered to these individuals and later introduced to support and self-help groups that will be accountable for their actions in the recovery process.
References
Blinn-Pike, L., Worthy, S. L., & Jonkman, J. N. (2010). Adolescent gambling: A
review of an emerging field of research. Journal of Adolescent Health ,
47(3), 223-236.
Grant, J. E., Odlaug, B. L., & Chamberlain, S. R. (2017). Gambling disorder,
DSM-5 criteria and symptom severity. Comprehensive Psychiatry , 75, 1-
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Williams, R. J., Volberg, R. A., Stevens, R. M., Williams, L. A., & Arthur, J. N.
(2017). The definition, dimensionalization, and assessment of gambling
participation. Canadian Consortium for Gambling Research.
Whelan, J. P., Steenbergh, T. A., & Meyers, A. W. (2007). Problem and
pathological gambling . Boston, MA: Hogrefe Publishing.
