Gambling Disorders
Gambling involves betting money or material valuables on an uncertain outcome based on chance. Whether it is the roll of a dice, the spin of a roulette wheel, or the outcome of a horse race, gambling centers on the unpredictable nature of chance. Historically, gambling has been viewed as immoral and was largely illegal. However, more people are starting to view gambling as a form of recreation and many countries have legalized it.
Despite the positive aspects of gambling, some people become addicted to it. The underlying causes of addiction are complex and can vary between individuals. Some people may be genetically predisposed to thrill-seeking behaviours and impulsivity, while others may have trouble processing reward information or controlling impulses. The development of gambling disorder may also be influenced by environmental factors. In particular, a person’s social environment can play an important role in the risk of developing gambling problems.
Many of the same risk factors that apply to drug addiction also apply to gambling disorder. These include an inherited genetic tendency to gamble, as well as family history of gambling disorders and other types of addictive behaviors. Additionally, some people are more likely to develop gambling disorder if they begin to gamble at an early age. This is because the brain regions involved in decision-making are still developing at this stage, making teenagers more susceptible to gambling and other risky behavior.
A gambling disorder is considered a mental health disorder when it interferes with a person’s normal functioning and is associated with negative consequences. The definition of a gambling disorder is broad and includes any type of compulsive gambling behavior that causes distress, anxiety, or other adverse psychological effects. Gambling disorder is a treatable condition and there are a number of treatment options, including outpatient therapy and residential treatment programs.
Some people find relief by engaging in other healthy activities, such as exercising, spending time with friends who don’t gamble, and practicing relaxation techniques. In addition, it can be helpful to identify and avoid triggers that can lead to gambling urges. For example, if you are often tempted to gamble when bored or upset, try to find other ways to relieve unpleasant feelings.
Increasingly, primary care providers are screening patients for gambling disorders. This is partly due to the growing recognition that pathological gambling shares many of the same features as substance abuse. In fact, pathological gambling has been described as a substance abuse disorder in several editions of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM) published by the American Psychiatric Association (American Psychiatric Association, 1980, 1987, 1994).