Compulsive gambling, known formally as pathological gambling, is a psychiatric disorder that involves a persistent fixation with gambling that continues in the face of seriously negative personal or social consequences. Along with a varied range of other conditions that feature impulsive behavior, it’s officially categorized as an “impulse disorder not otherwise specified.” Current guidelines group all compulsive gamblers together. However, according to the results of a study published in 2010 in the Canadian Journal of Psychiatry, compulsive gamblers actually belong to one of four different sub-types, two of which include features of certain personality-based mental illnesses called personality disorders.

Compulsive Gambling Basics

The American Psychiatric Association, a professional organization responsible for creating the standard definitions for mental illness in the United States, recognizes 10 distinct symptoms in compulsive or pathological gamblers. These symptoms include a fixation on gambling that persists outside of actual gambling situations, a repeated inability to control one’s gambling behaviors, increased moodiness when not involved in gambling, repeated lying about gambling activities, increased excitement when betting higher and higher amounts of money, a recurring need for help to recover from gambling debts, a rapid return to gambling after a big loss, use of gambling as a “mood lifter,” commission of crimes to sustain gambling activities and levels of gambling involvement that permanently damage one’s social or personal standing. In order to receive a diagnosis, any given individual must have a minimum of five of these symptoms.

Compulsive gambling, known formally as pathological gambling, is a psychiatric disorder that involves a persistent fixation with gambling that continues in the face of seriously negative personal or social consequences. Along with a varied range of other conditions that feature impulsive behavior, it’s officially categorized as an “impulse disorder not otherwise specified.” Current. Compulsive gambling is an uncontrollable urge to continue gambling, despite the toll it takes on your life. Often called a gambling disorder, this compulsion involves repeat behavior that causes significant problems or distress. When you gamble, you risk something you value in hopes of getting something of even higher value. Compulsive gambling is a disorder that affects millions in the U.S. Get the facts on gambling addiction causes, risk factors, symptoms, signs, diagnosis, treatment, negative effects, complications, and support. Compulsive gambling, however, takes gambling activities to a whole other level. According to the Pennsylvania Department of Health, three percent of Americans will experience job loss, broken families, debt and legal problems as result of compulsive gambling behaviors. In effect, the word “compulsive” best depicts the disorder aspect of.

As is true with a number of other non-substance-based impulsive or compulsive behaviors, mental health professionals increasingly view pathological gambling through the lens of mental/biological addiction. In the initial stages of his or her involvement, a given individual may feel entirely free to choose how he or she behaves in response to the gambling urge. However, over time, that sense of freedom and voluntary action starts to fade and gets replaced by an involuntary need for gambling that gradually supersedes all other relevant priorities. Specific problems that can increase the probability of a shift from voluntary to pathological gambling behaviors include substance addiction and the presence of antisocial personality disorder or various forms of schizophrenia.

Types of Compulsive Gamblers

Since the introduction of pathological gambling as a form of defined mental illness, a key feature of diagnosing the condition has been the identification of an inability to control the gambling impulse. However, according to the authors of the study published in the Canadian Journal of Psychiatry, this criterion does not accurately reflect the mental status of all people who otherwise meet the criteria for a pathological gambling diagnosis. Instead, after examining the psychological profiles of more than 1,100 compulsive gamblers, they concluded that people affected by the disorder actually fall into one of four separate personality-based sub-types.

According to the study authors’ classifications, people with Type 1 pathological gambling have personality traits that resemble the traits in people who have a condition called schizotypal personality disorder. People with this disorder are well oriented toward reality, but exhibit dysfunctional degrees of emotional disorganization, emotional instability and impulsivity; typically these traits first arise early on in life. People with Type 2 pathological gambling have personality traits associated with another condition called schizoid personality disorder. This condition closely resembles schizotypal personality disorder; however, unlike schizotypal individuals, schizoid individuals are not bothered by any personal or social disruptions caused by their illness.

People with Type 3 pathological gambling (as defined by the scheme presented in the Canadian Journal of Psychiatry) gamble out of an impulsive desire/need for a “rush” of sensation; typically, they don’t have symptoms of any particular sort of personality disorder. People with Type 4 pathological gambling also have no traits that correspond with a specific personality disorder; instead, they have what’s known as a “globally adaptive” personality, which allows them to change their behaviors according to their local surroundings.

Significance

The authors of the study in the Canadian Journal of Psychiatry believe that only people with Type 2 pathological gambling have a combination of personality disorder-related traits and impulsive or uncontrolled behavior that make them truly “pathological” (that is to say, extremely or excessively abnormal in some way). According to their findings, other people classified as pathological gamblers have definite, identifiable problems, but don’t rise to the same level of mental illness. Despite the results of this study, guidelines for compulsive or pathological gambling remain unchanged in 2013 and do not reflect the sort of symptom breakdown undertaken by the study’s authors.

Gambling, for some people, is a leisure activity that offers a night out on the town enjoying time with friends and family, with a distant possibility of winning money. For other people, the stakes are higher. After all, gambling is a $40 billion dollar industry in the United States. In Las Vegas alone—the unofficial gambling capital of the world—the casinos bring in over 10 billion dollars from people placing bets. Though many of those people only gamble once in awhile, there are people who make gambling the center of their universe. In other words, they are addicted to gambling.

The temptations to gamble are everywhere and you don’t need to be in a casino to try your luck. Every state in America, with the exception of Utah and Hawaii, offer some type of legalized gambling—from old-school slot machines to sports-betting apps and everything in between. The accessibility to gambling has only amplified with the Internet. Based on various surveys in recent years, it is estimated that two million people in the US are addicted to gambling. But that figure has the potential to increase at anytime, because those same surveys revealed as many as 20 million people noting that their gambling habit had begun to interfere with their work and social life. That type of behavior falls into the category of “compulsive gambling,” which is the stage before gambling addiction.

What is Compulsive Gambling?

“The shortest version is that compulsive gambling is, as its name implies, a compulsion,” says Lance Dodes, MD, author of THE HEART OF ADDICTION: A New Approach to Understanding and Managing Alcoholism and Other Addictive Behaviors. “Compulsive gambling leads to an addiction, which is a psychological symptom that is well-understood and treatable with psychotherapy oriented toward that understanding. It is not a biological, genetic or moral issue, and it is not fundamentally different from other compulsive behaviors or addictions.”

Compulsive Disorder Gambling Disorders

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Usually, people start out gambling for fun, and then they lose money they didn’t mean to, and they end up chasing that loss until all their money is gone. And in many cases, people are gambling because they have faced emotional and financial losses and they are trying to console themselves.

There is a misconception among many people that problem gambling, another term for gambling addiction, is not a big deal. “Most people don’t realize that problem gambling is a real disorder, just like alcohol or drug addiction,” says Shelia Moran, director of communications and marketing at First Choice Services, a nonprofit agency in West Virginia dedicated to mental health issues and problems. “They think it’s just a bad habit that can be easily ended. The good news is that we find most people who get treatment are able to successfully stop gambling.”

Gambling and Co-Existing Mental Health Conditions

Sadly, it is estimated that over 80% of people who suffer from some type of gambling addiction never seek treatment, no matter how bad their problem is. Other statistics reveal that while there are people who do seek treatment for their gambling addiction, over 70% end up returning to the world of betting. People with this type of disorder are more likely to suffer from other types of mental health and substance abuse issues. Many gamblers also have an alcohol disorder or addiction, and over half were nicotine dependent.

The emotional toll it takes on people is devastating, and in many cases a gambling addiction can also bring bouts of depression, and in extreme situations may lead to suicidal thoughts or tendencies. People with a gambling addiction are also prone to anxiety, high stress and extreme sadness. When a gambler loses everything, their life will suddenly become hopeless and they fear what the future might bring.

Gambling Addiction Symptoms and Signs

As with other addictions, there are warning signs to look out for. These include:

• Keeping gambling habits a secret
• Having trouble controlling their gambling habit
• Continuing to be involved with a gambling habit when they cannot financially afford to do so.
• Resorting to illegal activities to pay for their gambling habit

Physical symptoms of excessive gambling include problems sleeping, weight gain or loss, dark circles under the eyes and extreme headaches.

Compulsive Disorder Gambling Criteria

How can you tell if someone has a gambling disorder? The American Psychiatric Association has developed guidelines and says that a person requires at least four of the following issues to take place during the past year:

1. A person feels the need to gamble with an increasing amount of money in order to achieve the desired excitement.
2. A person becomes angry, restless or irritable when someone tells them to cut back on their gambling, or to stop it altogether.
3. A person will have unsuccessfully tried to cut back or stop gambling on their own.
4. A person has frequent thoughts about gambling, including reliving past gambling adventures, planning their next gambling outing, and thinking of ways to get money to gamble with.
5. A person will often gamble when they are feeling distressed.
6. After a person loses money, they return to try and “get even” (referred to as “chasing” one’s losses)
7. A person will not hesitate to lie to hide their gambling activity.
8. A person will jeopardize or lose a significant relationship, job or educational/career opportunity because of gambling.
9. A person will begin relying on others to help with money problems caused by their gambling habits.

Treatment Options for Gambling Addicts

Compulsive Disorder Symptoms

If you suspect that someone in your life is addicted to gambling or a compulsive gambler, you should know that there is help. Here are treatment options to consider:

• “Behavior therapy and cognitive behavior therapy are recommended for compulsive gamblers,” says Katie Hurley, LCSW. “Behavioral therapy uses systematic exposure to the behavior to teach skills to reduce the urges, while cognitive behavioral therapy focuses on identifying unhealthy and irrational thoughts and replacing them with positive/adaptive ones. Family therapy is another option,” Hurley explains.
• Apps can help instill healthy habits and encourage consideration of events and emotions that lead to compulsive behaviors. Addiction AVERT app can help curb cravings. BreakFree can help people who use their smartphones to gamble spend less time on their phone.
• Adaptive coping strategies like exercise, deep breathing, progressive muscle relaxation, mindfulness, and meditation are all positive options. There are even meditation apps that can help anyone who doesn’t know where to start.

According to the American Psychiatric Association, as of 2016, there are no FDA-approved medications for the treatment of gambling disorder. There is, however, emerging scientific research that has shown that medications can be effective in reducing the intensity of urges and cravings for gambling.

Finally, Gamblers Anonymous has been beneficial in the lives of people who have an addiction; however, they must first admit they have a problem, which is often times the most difficult thing to do. If someone is unable to find an accessible chapter of Gamblers Anonymous, Alcoholics Anonymous addresses many of the same behaviors.

Just as anyone can become addicted to gambling, anyone can stop.

Compulsive Gambling Disorder Dsm

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