Gambling Addictions

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Gambling Addictions
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History

• Forms of lotteries date back to biblical times
• 1892 ? CCC ? complete ban on all forms of
  gambling
• 1969 ? CCC amended ? First Nations, charitable
  groups, provincial and federal govts permitted
  to use lotteries
• By 1980 Pathological Gambling included in DSM-III
  as a disorder of impulse control
• 1985 ? CCC ? Private operators permitted under
  provincial licensing authority

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Gambling

• For 4-6, gambling becomes pathological
• Average age 25-34yrs.
• Teens are 3xs more likely than adults to become
  problem gamblers
• settings produce state of excitement
  dissociation
• After several minutes ? increased dopamine and
  decreased serotonin
• Repeated pairings ? arousal begins immediately
  upon entering casino (classical conditioning)

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Characteristics of those withlow risk of
compulsive gambling

• Gambling is enjoyable complement to other
  activities
• Gambling with family and friends (rather than
  alone)
• Gambling confined to limited times
• Gambling has predetermined limits for losses

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Characteristics of those withhigh risk of
compulsive gambling

• Opposite to above but often have coexisting
  problems
• 52 have other substance abuse problems
• 76 indicate major depressive disorder
• 28 have recurrent panic attacks
• 50 contemplate suicide

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Types of Problem Gamblers(by etiology)

• Normal problem gamblers
• ? problems seen as consequences (not causes) of
  gambling
• ? no previous emotional/psychological problems
• ? significant event leads to preoccupation (i.e.
  a big win)
• ? depression, anxiety, etc. are consequences

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B) Emotionally disturbed gamblers

• ? pre-existing mood disturbances
• ? gambling used to modify emotions
• ? seek escape
• ? gambling euphoric and analgesic experience
• ? pre-existing issues (i.e. anxiety, depression,
  problems concentrating) alleviated by gambling
  environment
• ? common negative childhood experiences,
  neurotic personality traits, some form of
  negative life event

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C) Biologically-based gamblers

• ? dysfunction in neurotransmitters ? low levels
  of serotonin
• ? often labeled ADD as children
• ? inability to delay gratification, diminished
  responses to punishment, sensation seeking
• ? gambling usually starts at early age

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Types of Gamblers(by personality traits)

• Action Gambler
• Usually domineering, controlling, manipulative
  men
• players
• Intelligent group others see them as energetic,
  persuasive, confident
• Usually started gambling at an early age
• Prefer skill games
• Gamble to beat others/system

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2)Escape Gamblers

• Gambling becomes a problem later in life
• Others see them as nurturing, responsible
• Become compulsive almost immediately
• Leads to deep sense of guilt and shame
• Hypnotic-like state while gambling
• Prefer luck games
• History of abuse
• Codependent

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Three Phases of Problem Gambling

• Phase I ? winning ? begins as a social
  activity, but gambling more frequently and
  beginning to accumulate debt ? dvlpd tolerance
• Phase II ? losing ? chasing your losses ? false
  sense of control anxiety mounting rituals
  borrowing to gamble
• Phase III ? Desperation ? cling to fantasy of
  winning joy gone illegal activity has no
  legitimate value

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Theoretical Explanations

• Biological ? physiological arousal more intense
  for problem gamblers
• Medical/Disease ? progressive disease ?major
  marker is loss of control abstinence only cure
• Psychological ?
• psychodynamic temporary escape from self
  (unconscious desire to punish self or others)
• Personality ? depressive personality trait, need
  for dominance or exhibitionism
• Learning ? gambling imitated
• Sociological ? inability to cope with the
  complexities of the world ? gambling involves
  focus on limited, repetitive activities that numb
  the senses