Citation

Saiz Ruiz J, Moreno Oliver I, López-Ibor Aliño JJ. Actas Luso Esp. Neurol. Psiquiatr. Cienc. Afines 1992; 20(4): 189-197.

Copyright

(Copyright © 1992, Grupo Ars XXI de Comunicacion, SA)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

1529750

Abstract

Gambling dependence or pathological gambling is a psychiatric disorder, recognised as such by the North American Psychiatric Association since 1980. Since 1981 we are carrying out a treatment program for patients who suffer from pathological gambling at the Psychiatric Service of "Ramón y Cajal" Hospital. There is an individualized treatment for each patient and their inclusion in group therapy discussions. We present a descriptive study of the most representative socio-demographic, clinical and therapeutic-evolutive data of 46 patients following treatment in our program. All fulfill the diagnostic criteria of DSM III-R for pathological gambling. They were 37 males and 9 females, with an average age of 39 years. More than half of the patients (58%) were consumers of alcoholic beverages; the drug consumption index found was 4% and practically they all were smokers (87%). The excessive drinking and pathological gambling incidence found among family were 35% and 20% respectively. Our therapeutic results support the idea that pathological gambling is a treatable disorder. After an average of two years following treatment 46% of our patients stopped or notably reduced its impulse to gamble. The high incidence of alcohol or drugs consumption among pathological gamblers and their families suggest a biological and psychological relationship between pathological gambling and the classical addictive disorders.

Language: es

Keywords

Adult; Age Factors; Alcoholism; Family; Female; Gambling; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Occupations; Psychotherapy; Socioeconomic Factors; Suicide, Attempted