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Aims: To evaluate, in a sample of pathological gamblers, the effects of personality traits and psychiatric comorbidity on the severity of this condition. Methods: 40 patients were evaluated with the following instruments: EuropASI, modified for pathological gambling; MINI; TCI, and BIS-11. Univariate linear regression analyses were conducted to evaluate the relationships between different scales. Results: Age of onset was influenced by Novelty Seeking and NS-1 subscale, with higher scores related to earlier onset, Harm Avoidance 2 subscale, with higher scores related to a later onset; the presence of a lifetime panic disorder was related with a later onset; A positive correlation was found between age of onset of pathological gambling and both cigarette and cannabis smoking. Higher NS1 scores were related to a higher amount of money spent during the last month, while higher scores on the HA2 and Cooperativeness 5 subscales were related to a lesser number of days in which the patient had gambled during the last month. Moreover, higher scores in Gambling severity scores are related with the presence of a comorbid alcohol or substance abuse or dependence, dysthymia, post traumatic stress disorder, bipolar II mood disorder, and with higher BIS-11 Motor Impulsiveness, Non-planned Impulsiveness and total scores. Conclusions: Personality traits and psychiatric comorbidity influence the age of onset of gambling, the severity of gambling and the functional and economic impact of the disease on the patient’s life. An evaluation of these aspects is needed to determine treatment options with a greater understanding of the phenomenon. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims over the past few years Gambling has significantly increased in Italy, being considered as an acceptable form of entertainment and leisure activity. Our aim is to study personality traits and the psychiatric comorbidity of gamblers in relation to the different age and the onset of gambling. Methods 71 patients affected by Pathological Gambling (PG), who accessed in our service (A. Gemelli Hospital, Rome- Italy), underwent the following assessment tests: - Addiction Severity Index (ASI) ; - Temperament and Character Inventory-Revised (TCI-R) to study personality traits; - MINI-International Neuropsychiatric Interview for psychiatric comorbidity. Results we found that younger gamblers have higher TCI-R scores in the subscales NS1 (exploratory excitability)(p<0,001) and NS3 (extravagance)(p=0,024) and lower scores in HA2 (fear of uncertainty) and ST3 (spiritual acceptance)(p=0,005). An earlier age of onset of PG correlates with higher scores in NS1 (p=0,003), NS3 (p=0,047), Novelty Seeking (p=0,016) and lower HA2 (p=0,034). Patients with gambling onset before age 20 have more probabilities of playing multiple kinds of games (p=0,004), while lower probabilities of playing passive games (p=0026); furthermore they exhibit antisocial personality disorder (p=0,033) and addiction familiarity (p=0,006). Late-onset gamblers (age > 45 years) prefer passive games (p=0,007) and usually don't play online games (p=0,02). Conclusions gamblers are a heterogeneous population with regard to personality traits, psychiatric comorbidity, familiarity and type of games played. Paying attention to the gamblers' age and the age of onset of PG could be useful to a greater understanding of the individual differences of patients, and to a deeper knowledge of their disorder. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Aims Internet Gambling has become one of the most popular and lucrative internet business. The recent improvements in technology have changed betting habits with online poker, casinos, sport betting, bingo and lotteries. Liberalization of the Italian online gambling market gradually started in 2006, but only in 2010 foreign gambling operators have been able to launch online real money games. Our aim is to study the impulsivity and personality traits of an Italian sample of Pathological Gamblers (PG), showing the peculiarities of Online Gambling (OG). Methods 69 patients affected by PG, who accessed to our clinical center, were asked to fill the following questionnaires: - Temperament and Character Inventory-Revised (TCI-R) - Europ-ASI (Addiction Severity Index) - Barratt Impulsiveness Scale (BIS-11) Results we found significant statistical correlations between OG and: younger age (p<0,01), early onset of gambling (p=0,012), male gender (p=0,015), gambling exclusively with active games (p<0,001), gambling that involves different games (p=0,04) and PG familiarity (p=0,03). Considering gamblers'personality traits, OG significantly correlates with higher scores in TCI-R subscales NS1(exploratory excitability) and Persistence, while lower scores in HA2 (fear of uncertain) and ST3 (spiritual acceptance). There is no correlation between OG and impulsivity. Conclusions internet gamblers’ young age could explain the correlations between OG and higher scores in NS1, HA2 and ST3, and consequently risky behaviours and less spiritual believes/acceptance. Higher scores in Persistence indicate perseverance in spite of fatigue or frustration. Cloninger's research found that Persistence, like the other temperament traits, is highly heritable. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Pathological gambling refers to the uncontrollable impulse to gamble, irrespective of the interference the behaviour has on the individual''s life. It often results in disrupted relationships, financial problems, criminal behaviour and yet the individual is unable to refrain. Aims: Our aim is to evaluate the relationship among impulsivity traits, personality assessment and psychiatric comorbidity in a sample of pathological gamblers. Methods: 78 pathological gamblers were evaluated with the following instruments: MINI to evaluate psychiatric comorbidity; TCI to evaluate personality traits, and BIS-11 to evaluate impulsivity. Pathological gambling was assessed with DSM-IV-TR criteria. Results: In our sample we found an average score of BIS-11 (66,9) slightly higher than the score of the general population (63,8). The scores of TCI, compared with the mean scores of the general population, differ significantly with regard to NS, RD, C, ST. As to MINI, it reveals a significant prevalence of Major Depressive Episode, Dysthymia, GAD, and risk of suicide. We identified two groups at high and low impulsivity and we conducted an analysis in relation to personality traits measured by TCI and incidence of psychiatric comorbidity measured by the MINI. The group with high impulsivity was associated with significantly higher scores of NS and HA, and lower RD and SD. Also in this group there was a higher incidence of Major Depressive Episode and GAD. Conclusions: The analysis allows to identify the impulsive trait as a discriminating factor of two different types of players in relation to personality characteristics and psychiatric comorbidity. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]