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Background and Aims: This is the first nation-wide register study based on a total population sample measuring the gender-specific incidences of chronic diseases and conditions among adults diagnosed with gambling disorder (GD)., Design, Setting and Participants: The study used aggregated data for 2011-22 retrieved from the Register of Primary Health Care visits, Care Register for Health Care and Care Register for Social Welfare, including specialized outpatient and inpatient health care, inpatient social care and institutional care and housing services with 24-hour or part-time assistance, set in mainland Finland. Participants comprised people aged 18-90+ years with GD diagnosis [corresponding to pathological gambling, International Classification of Diseases 10th revision (ICD-10) code F63.0, n = 3605; men n = 2574, women n = 1031] and the general population (n = 4 374 192)., Measurements: Incidences of somatic diseases and psychiatric disorders were calculated for the people with diagnosed GD and for the general population, separately for women and men., Findings: After standardizing for age, the incidence of each diagnostic group was systematically higher for people with GD compared with the general population, except for cancer. The highest standardized incidence ratio (SIR) values were for psychiatric disorders [SIR = 234.2; 95% confidence interval (CI) = 226.1-242.4], memory disorders (SIR = 172.1; 95% CI = 119.1-234.8), nervous system diseases (SIR = 162.8; 95% CI = 152.8-173.1), chronic respiratory diseases (SIR = 150.6; 95% CI = 137.6-164.2), diabetes (SIR = 141.4; 95% CI = 127.9-155.5) and digestive diseases (SIR = 134.5; 95% CI = 127.1-142.2)., Conclusions: In Finland, the incidence of chronic diseases and conditions among people with gambling disorder is higher compared with the general population, apart from cancer., (© 2024 The Author(s). Addiction published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Society for the Study of Addiction.)

Background and Aims: The South Oaks Gambling Screen (SOGS) is a commonly used tool for screening potential gambling problems. The SOGS score has been found to be correlated with the DSM-5 criteria for Gambling Disorder (GD). However, one of its main limitations is the high rate of false positives. The objective of this study was to establish more accurate cutoff points for the SOGS based on the DSM-5 criteria and severity levels, taking into account sex-specific samples. Additionally, we aimed to validate these cutoff points using external measures., Methods: The study sample comprised 4.516 patients (398 women and 4,118 men) who sought treatment for GD. Of these patients, 4.203 met the DSM-5 criteria for GD, while 313 did not meet the threshold for GD diagnosis., Results: The recommended cutoff value for the SOGS is eight for men (Sensitivity (Se): 82.9%, Specificity (Sp): 86.2%) and seven for women (Se: 85.6%, Sp: 77.4%). For moderate severity of GD, the cutoff points are nine for men (Se: 82.1%, Sp: 82.0%) and eight for women (Se: 86.3%, Sp: 73.3%), while for severe cases of GD, the cutoff point is ten for both sexes (Se: 83.0%, Sp: 56.7% for men; Se: 80.0%, Sp: 77.4% for women). These cutoff values are validated by evidence of worse psychopathological states, more dysfunctional personality traits, and risky behaviours commonly associated with GD., Discussion and Conclusions: These findings support adjusting the reference values for the SOGS to eight in males and seven in females to enhance the classification of individuals potentially experiencing GD. The use of higher cutoff values has significant implications for clinical and research purposes, enabling a more precise assessment of the diagnosis and severity of GD.

Co-occurrence between gambling disorder (GD) and other mental disorders is common, but its association with problematic pornography use (PPU) remains unexplored. This study aimed to investigate relationships between sociodemographic variables, personality measures, psychopathology, emotional regulation, and impulsivity and the co-occurrence of GD and PPU using structural equation modeling (SEM). The sample consisted of 359 adults seeking treatment for GD. The short version of the Problematic Pornography Consumption Scale (PPCS-6) identified patients with GD + PPU. Psychopathology, impulsivity, emotional regulation, and personality were also assessed. Higher impulsivity levels statistically predicted co-occurrence between GD and PPU. Impulsivity mediated the relationship between younger age, maladaptive personality features, and emotional dysregulation and co-occurrence. Psychopathological distress did not directly associate with GD + PPU co-occurrence. Impulsivity relates importantly to the co-occurrence of GD and PPU. Younger age, maladaptive personality, and emotional dysregulation contribute to increased impulsivity levels and co-occurrence. The findings highlight the importance of addressing impulsivity in understanding and treating co-occurring GD and PPU., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest Dr. Potenza discloses that he has consulted for and advised Game Day Data, Addiction Policy Forum, AXA, Idorsia, Baria-Tek, Boehringer Ingelheim, and Opiant Therapeutics; been involved in a patent application with Yale University and Novartis; received research support from the Mohegan Sun Casino, Children and Screens and the Connecticut Council on Problem Gambling; consulted for or advised legal and gambling entities on issues related to impulse control, internet use and addictive behaviors; provided clinical care related to impulse-control and addictive behaviors; performed grant reviews; edited journals/journal sections; given academic lectures in grand rounds, CME events, and other clinical/scientific venues; and generated books or chapters for publishers of mental health texts. Drs. Fernández-Aranda and Susana Jimenez-Murcia received consultancy/speaker honoraria from Novo Nordisk. The other authors have no conflicts of interest with respect to the content of this manuscript., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Impulsivity and emotion impairments have been noted in individuals with gambling disorder (GD). However, little research has investigated the influence of impulsivity and emotions on the severity of gambling in clinical populations. This study aimed to examine: (i) differences in emotions and impulsivity traits according to the severity of gambling in individuals with GD, (ii) the mediating effects of emotion in the relationship between impulsivity traits and gambling severity, and (iii) the predictive effects of emotion and impulsivity traits on GD severity. The study included 214 participants seeking treatment for GD who completed assessments for emotions (Patient Health Questionnaire-9 [PHQ-9], 7-item Generalized Anxiety [GAD-7]), impulsivity traits (Barratt Impulsiveness Scale [BIS], Self-control Scale [SCS]), and GD severity (DSM-5). Participants were categorized into mild (n = 78), moderate (n = 63), and severe (n = 73) gambling severity groups. Significant differences in emotions and impulsivity traits were observed across these groups. The severe GD group exhibited higher levels of depression, anxiety, and impulsivity traits, along with lower self-control, compared to the moderate and mild groups. Mediation analyses demonstrated that negative emotions mediated the association between impulsivity traits and the severity of gambling. More specifically, the indirect effects of impulsivity traits through PHQ-9 and GAD-7 were found to be significant, indicating a mediating role of emotions. Moreover, a predictive model incorporating emotion and impulsivity traits showed moderate accuracy in predicting the severity of gambling, with an area under the receiver operating characteristic curve of 0.714. This study highlights the distinct pathways through which impulsivity traits operate and emphasizes the need for prevention and treatment strategies that consider impulsivity traits and emotions for different levels of gambling severity., (© 2024. Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature.)

Background: Gambling disorder (GD) has become a wide concern in Indonesia, as many negative consequences arise from this psychiatric condition. Prompt treatment with an appropriate method of delivery is required to achieve optimal outcomes in GD patients. This protocol paper outlines a study to determine the effectiveness, acceptability, and feasibility of internet-based cognitive behavioral therapy (iCBT) in treating GD in Indonesia., Methods: This non-randomized pilot and feasibility study will recruit 20 people with GD. All participants will receive the iCBT intervention through self-learning videos and guided weekly group sessions. The effectiveness of the intervention will be assessed at baseline (week 0), post- treatment completion (week 10), and 6 weeks post-treatment (week 16). The outcomes measured will be the change in gambling symptoms, gambling urges, cognitive distortions, readiness to change, emotional problems, and quality of life of the participants., Discussion: The feasibility of iCBT for GD patients in Indonesia will be assessed by this study. The study's results will give an indication of the acceptability of the intervention and the feasibility of a subsequent conclusive trial. The delivery of iCBT may help to address the issue of treatment access in an extensive geographical region and provide immediate implications as a treatment resource for GD in practice., Competing Interests: No competing interests were disclosed., (Copyright: © 2024 Siste K et al.)

Introduction: Gender differences in problem gambling have attracted much attention in recent gambling literature. However, relatively little is known about how gender norms relate to social strain and self-control in predicting gambling disorder within a spousal context. This study aimed to increase knowledge about gambling disorder in Chinese married couples by assessing the three-way interaction effects between social strain, self-control, and gender norms., Methods: A total of 1,620 Chinese married couples were recruited from a representative sample of households in Hong Kong., Results: The results of the generalized ordered logit model revealed the self-control mitigation effect of composite strain on the propensity for gambling disorder is strong in men who accept traditional gender norms. In contrast, in women who accept traditional gender roles, self-control attenuates the effect of recent stressful life events on the propensity for gambling disorder, but self-control exacerbates the effect of negative relationships with offspring on the propensity for gambling disorder., Discussion: Although reinforcing self-control is a protective factor that can alleviate social strain and disordered gambling for both men and women, the prominent contribution of gender norms to the self-control exacerbation effect deserves close attention for social workers who provide services to these gambling families., Competing Interests: The author declares that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2024 Man.)

Gambling, which was previously restricted to physical casinos and card rooms, has become readily accessible through internet platforms and virtual card games as a result of recently developed technological advances. The increase in the prevalence of pathological gambling (PG) disorder has been attributed to the extensive availability of online gambling platforms and the covert advertising that is associated with them. In this case, we examine an individual with a PG disorder who is intrigued by online gambling. This individual also has a co-occurring drug use disorder and is burdened by significant financial debt and family problems. These issues have arisen due to an uncontrollable impulse to gamble in online games. The participants initially achieved transient success in these online games, which led to a strong desire to always participate in them, neglecting their personal and professional responsibilities and overall well-being. After depleting the individual's financial savings entirely, he turned to stealing from his own home in order to continue gambling and recover their losses. This has been facilitated by the ease and convenience of online money transactions through websites and mobile applications, which has resulted in a greater engagement and understanding of online gambling., Competing Interests: Human subjects: Consent was obtained or waived by all participants in this study. Conflicts of interest: In compliance with the ICMJE uniform disclosure form, all authors declare the following: Payment/services info: All authors have declared that no financial support was received from any organization for the submitted work. Financial relationships: All authors have declared that they have no financial relationships at present or within the previous three years with any organizations that might have an interest in the submitted work. Other relationships: All authors have declared that there are no other relationships or activities that could appear to have influenced the submitted work., (Copyright © 2024, R et al.)

Background: Several treatment-related challenges exist for gambling disorder, in particular at-scale dissemination in health care settings., Objective: This study describes the introduction of a newly developed internet-delivered cognitive behavioral therapy (iCBT) program for gambling disorder (GD), provided with therapist support in routine addiction care, in a nationally recruited sample in Sweden. The study details the introduction of the iCBT program, evaluates its effectiveness and acceptability, and compares registry outcomes among iCBT patients with other patients with GD at the clinic who received face-to-face psychological treatment as usual., Methods: The study site was the Stockholm Addiction eClinic, which offers digital interventions for addictive disorders in routine care. The iCBT program was introduced nationally for treatment-seeking patients through the Swedish eHealth platform. After approximately 2 years of routine treatment provision, we conducted a registry study, including ordinary patients in routine digital care (n=218), and a reference sample receiving face-to-face psychological treatment for GD (n=216)., Results: A statistically significant reduction in the Gambling Symptom Assessment Scale scores during the treatment was observed (B=-1.33, SE=0.17, P<.001), corresponding to a large within-group Cohen d effect size of d=1.39. The iCBT program was rated high for satisfaction. A registry-based survival analysis, controlling for psychiatric comorbidity, showed that patients receiving iCBT exhibited posttreatment outcomes (re-engagement in outpatient addiction care, receiving new psychiatric prescriptions, enrollment in psychiatric inpatient care, and care events indicative of contact with social services) similar to comparable patients who underwent face-to-face treatment-as-usual., Conclusions: A lack of randomized allocation notwithstanding, the iCBT program for GD evaluated in this study was well-received by patients in routine addiction care, was associated with the expected symptom decrease during treatment, and appears to result in posttreatment registry outcomes similar to face-to-face treatment. Future studies on treatment mechanisms and moderators are warranted., International Registered Report Identifier (irrid): RR2-10.1186/s40814-020-00647-5., (©Olof Molander, Anne H Berman, Miriam Jakobson, Mikael Gajecki, Hanna Hällström, Jonas Ramnerö, Johan Bjureberg, Per Carlbring, Philip Lindner. Originally published in the Journal of Medical Internet Research (https://www.jmir.org), 18.09.2024.)

Background and Aims: Problem gambling (PG) represents a significant public health concern with widespread effects in various cultures and regions globally, with younger individuals and males at a particularly higher risk. This disparity is attributed to a mix of cultural, developmental, and biological influences. To date, there has not been a comprehensive examination to determine whether this risk pattern holds consistently across different jurisdictions., Methods: We performed a systematic review and meta-analysis using the PRISMA framework, identifying 21 eligible studies from 18 countries, encompassing 156,249 participants (47.6% male and 52.4% female)., Results: The studies varied considerably by region (Asia: 19%, Europe: 52%, Oceania: 19%, North America: 10%), the diagnostic criteria for PG, and participation rates in gambling (ranging from 12% to 92%). Data on PG prevalence was categorised by gender and three age groups (young: 18-35, middle: 30-55, and older: 45-65). Using a random-effects meta-analysis, we found a global PG prevalence of 1.9%. Europe reported a significantly lower prevalence (1.3%) compared to North America (5.3%). Men were found to be 3.4 times more likely than women to engage in problem gambling, although the gap narrows in North America. The young demographic showed a 1.51 times higher likelihood of reporting PG compared to the middle-aged group, whereas older adults were 0.80 times less likely to report PG. Notably, age-related effects varied significantly across regions., Conclusions: Our findings confirm that age and gender significantly influence PG risk across cultures, with significant heterogeneity observed across jurisdictions.

Online gamblers are more likely to experience gambling problems. The main objective was to compare the frequency of recovery one (middle-term) and two (long-term) years after treatment initiation, according to the gambling medium (Internet vs. land-based gambling). The secondary objectives were (i) to compare online and offline gamblers at inclusion and (ii) to investigate whether the gambling medium was a predictive factor of recovery. Outpatients beginning treatment for a GD (n = 237) were assessed at inclusion (treatment initiation) and after 1 and 2 years. Bivariate analyses were performed to compare online and offline gamblers at inclusion and on the frequency of recovery at one and two years. Two multivariate logistic regressions were then performed to identify factors associated with middle- and long-term recovery. The majority of patients achieved middle (74.2%) and long-term (78.9%) recovery, with no difference between online and offline gamblers. The gambling medium was not a predictive factor of recovery. Patients with a higher perceived self-efficacy (OR = 1.04 [1.01-1.07], p = .046) and having no history of mood disorders (OR = 11.18 [2.53-49.50], p < .001) at inclusion were more likely to achieve middle-term recovery, while long-term recovery was associated with a lower level of sensation seeking (OR = 0.67 [0.48-0.92], p = .015) at treatment initiation. Online gambling did not seem to influence middle- and long-term recovery compared to offline gambling. Enhancement of perceived self-efficacy and treatment of mood disorders, and treatment strategies focused on sensation-seeking may represent helpful care strategies for favouring achievement of middle-term recovery and maintenance of long-term recovery, respectively. ClinicalTrials.gov NCT01248767, date of first registration: November 25, 2010., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Understanding the relationship between empathy, subjective effects of addictive reinforcers and dopamine function in people with gambling disorder (PGD) vs. healthy controls (HCs) may inform GD treatment. The current investigation addressed this issue via retrospective analysis of data from three studies using amphetamine and a slot machine (SLOTS) as reinforcers in PGD and HCs. The Empathy scale of Eysenck's Impulsiveness Questionnaire assessed trait Empathy. The Gamblers Beliefs Questionnaire assessed cognitive distortions. The Eysenck Lie scale assessed socially desirable responding. PET scans quantified dopamine receptor expression and amphetamine-induced dopamine release in Study 1. Pre-treatment with the D2-receptor (D2R)-preferring antagonist, haloperidol or D1R-D2R antagonist, fluphenazine before SLOTS tested the role of D2 autoreceptors and post-synaptic D2R in Study 2. Pre-treatment with the multi-system indirect dopamine agonist, modafinil before SLOTS assessed the reliability of correlations in PGD. Striatal D2R expression predicted greater Empathy and lower amphetamine 'Liking' in HCs, and predicted greater symptom severity in PGD. Empathy predicted lower 'Exciting' effects of SLOTS under placebo in HCs; no correlation emerged under either antagonist. Relative to placebo, haloperidol decreased, whereas fluphenazine increased, the positive correlation between Empathy and Exciting effects of SLOTS in PGD. Modafinil markedly reduced the positive correlation between Empathy and Exciting effects of SLOTS seen under placebo in PGD. Empathy predicted greater cognitive distortions in PGD in all studies. Lie scale variance influenced several primary effects. Prior research linking the insula with Empathy, reactivity to interoceptive signals for risky rewards (uncertainty), and cognitive distortions, provides a parsimonious account for these results., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest None of the authors declares a conflict of interest in the report of the findings in this manuscript. There was no use of Artificial Intelligence or any AI application in the preparation of this manuscript., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

The Alcohol, Smoking, and Substance Involvement Screening Test (ASSIST) screening tool has not previously been used to evaluate risk for gambling disorder (GD). We aimed to assess the level at which each specific substance involvement score (SSIS), measured by ASSIST, most optimally predicted GD among U.S. college students. Data were analyzed for 141,769 students from the National College Health Assessment (fall 2019-spring 2021) utilizing multivariable logistic regression models. Sensitivities and specificities were utilized to find optimal cutoffs that best identified those with GD, overall and by biological sex and age group. Lower threshold of substance risk related to prescription opioids, cocaine, and hallucinogens (all with SSIS cutoffs of 4) predicts gambling disorder compared to sedatives (SSIS cutoff of 19). Younger students had lower thresholds of substance risk predicting GD than older students for heroin, but for all other substance classifications students 25 years and older had lower thresholds of SSIS predicting GD than students 18-24 years old. This study aids in the understanding that substance use behavior may put students at risk for other addictive behaviors such as GD. This study is the first to utilize the ASSIST tool to predict GD among U.S. college students, extending its application beyond substance use disorders. The identification of optimal cutoffs for each SSIS provides a novel approach to concurrently screen for GD and substance use disorders. This unique contribution could enhance early detection and intervention strategies for GD in the college student population., (© 2024. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, part of Springer Nature.)

Background: This study examined the association between Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) and Gambling Severity (gambling severity), considering the mediating roles of internalizing, externalizing, and attention among youth online gamblers., Methods: 762 youth (age mean±SD = 15.03 ± 2.40; age range = 10-18 years; 75.3% boys) completed the Persian Gambling Disorder Screening Questionnaire (GDSQ-P), Pediatric Symptom Checklist - Youth Report (Y-PSC), and Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System Questionnaire (ACE's section, modified by authors). The analysis was done using the SMART PLS software., Results: The reliability and discriminant validity of the provided model were assessed using Partial Least Squares-Structural Equation Modeling (PLS-SEM). According to the results of the PLS-SEM analysis, the present model demonstrated suitable levels of reliability and validity. Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) significantly affected attention, internalizing, externalizing problems, and gambling severity. Additionally, the level of gambling was directly correlated with ACEs. Moreover, the indirect influence of the independent variable on the dependent variable via the mediators was found to be statistically significant (P < .001).These findings suggest that externalizing behaviors, attention problems, and internalizing symptoms mediate the effect of ACEs on gambling severity. Lastly, fitness indices indicated that our proposed model fit the data well (SRMR = 0.06, d&#95;ULS = 1.15, Chi-square = 1291.461, and NFI = 0.71)., Conclusion: Our study found that ACEs significantly influence gambling severity among youth online gamblers, with internalizing, externalizing, and attention problems mediating this relationship. Practical implications include integrating ACE screening and targeted interventions for associated mental health issues into youth gambling prevention programs to mitigate the risk of problematic gambling behavior., (© 2024. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, part of Springer Nature.)

The main purpose of this study was to evaluate the feasibility of an online psychological intervention for individuals with gambling-related problems, supported by ecological momentary assessments and interventions (EMAs and EMIs), along with weekly phone-calls, before conducting a randomized controlled trial. Participants were required to complete 3 of the 8 modules of the program based on cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) and extensions and innovations of CBT. The study measured the outcomes of feasibility (i.e., reach, appropriateness, technology literacy and technology usability, fidelity, and adherence). In terms of reach, 19.8% (n = 11) of the initial population met the inclusion criteria and completed the three modules (mean age = 41; 90.9% men). The perceived appropriateness and the technology usability after the first use were both excellent, fidelity and adherence to the online treatment (73.3%) were adequate. Adherence to the EMAs and the weekly phone calls were more modest (54.51% and 66.67%, respectively). The results of the present study show that an online treatment for gambling problems enhanced by EMA and EMI might be feasible but challenges were noted in terms of reach and adherence to these assessments and calls. These challenges are important to consider for future trials and the scalability of treatments for individuals with gambling disorders., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

The Gambling Craving Scale (GACS) is a multifaceted measure of gambling craving. Initial validation work by Young and Wohl (2009) in university student samples showed that the GACS had a three-factor structure capturing dimensions of Desire, Anticipation, and Relief. Despite its potential clinical utility as a measure of craving, the GACS has yet to be validated in people seeking treatment for gambling problems. Accordingly, we examined the psychometric properties in a sample of people (N = 209; M age  = 37.66; 62.2% female) participating in a randomized controlled trial testing a novel online treatment for problem gambling. We predicted the GACS would have a three-factor structure. In addition, we also examined measurement invariance across sex and problem gambling risk status. Finally, we assessed concurrent validity of the factors with other measures of problem gambling severity and involvement. Exploratory structural equation modeling findings supported a three-factor structure that was invariant across the groups tested. Each of the Desire, Anticipation, and Relief subscales were significant positive predictors of problem gambling severity and symptoms, and some form of gambling behaviour. Findings show the GACS is a promising scale to assess multidimensional craving experiences among people in treatment for gambling problems., (© 2024. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, part of Springer Nature.)

Analyzing why being a victim of violence has led women to have problems with gambling is a field yet to be explored. Thus, the objectives of the present study were (I) analyze the relationship between gambling motives, received psychological violence, and early maladaptive schemas in women; (II) study differences in the study variables in women with and without gambling disorder (GD); (III) analyze the predictive role of violence and schemas in gambling motives; and (IV) analyze the mediating role of schemas in the relationship between violence and gambling motives. The sample comprised 61 women with GD (M = 48.43, SD = 12.78) and 342 women without GD (M = 26.91, SD = 11.47). The results of the present study revealed positive correlations between gambling motives, psychological violence received and early maladaptive schemas. In addition, women with GD scored higher on the study variables. It was also found that early maladaptive schemas based on subjugation and defectiveness may be a vulnerability factor for engaging in gambling to cope with the negative emotions produced by gender violence. From a clinical perspective, knowing the risk factors related to gambling motives in women is crucial to developing effective prevention and intervention programs., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Desire thinking, within the metacognitive model of addictive behaviors, is conceptualized as a transdiagnostic process linked to the escalation and maintenance of craving for various addictive disorders; however, its application to the understanding of gambling and the Chinese community remains at an early stage. The present study aimed to introduce desire thinking into gambling research in the Chinese context by: (1) testing the applicability of its two-factor conceptualization and assessment tool, the Desire Thinking Questionnaire (DTQ), and (2) exploring its association with dysregulated and regulated engagements in gambling (i.e., Gambling Disorder [GD] and responsible gambling [RG], respectively). We conducted a telephone survey in Macao, China, and obtained a probability sample of 837 Chinese adult past-year gamblers (48.5% men; age: M = 41.11, SD = 14.31) with a two-stage cluster random sampling method. Our data indicated the psychometric adequacy of the two-factor DTQ (i.e., verbal perseveration and imaginal prefiguration) for measuring Chinese gamblers' desire thinking about gambling. After controlling for craving and demographics, desire thinking contributed to an additional 12.1% and 18.9% variance explained in GD tendency and RG behaviors, respectively. This study provides the first empirical evidence of the utility of desire thinking and the DTQ in facilitating gambling research on Chinese gamblers. Our findings also suggest the value of incorporating desire thinking in detecting and treating GD and in promoting RG., (© 2024. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, part of Springer Nature.)

The co-occurrence between gambling disorder (GD) and problematic pornography use (PPU) has not yet been explored. Therefore, the present study compared (a) sociodemographic variables, (b) GD-related factors, (c) substance use, (d) psychopathology, (e) personality features, (f) impulsivity, and (g) emotion regulation between individuals with GD (GD group) and those with co-occurring GD and PPU (GD+PPU group). The sample consisted of 359 treatment-seeking individuals with GD: n = 332 individuals had GD only (GD group) and n = 37 individuals had GD and co-occurring PPU (GD+PPU group). GD severity, impulsivity, psychopathology, personality, emotion regulation, and other sociodemographic and clinical variables were assessed. No between-group differences in sociodemographic measures were observed. The GD+PPU group demonstrated greater GD severity and a higher likelihood of substance use compared to those without PPU. Furthermore, the presence of PPU was associated with worse psychopathology, higher impulsivity (except for lack of premeditation and positive urgency), more difficulties in emotion regulation (except for non-acceptance of emotions and limited access to emotions), and a personality profile characterized by lower levels of self-directedness and cooperativeness. The co-occurrence of GD and PPU seems associated with a more dysfunctional clinical profile., (© 2023. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, part of Springer Nature.)

Background and aimsProblem gambling causes major social and psychiatric consequences, and there is need to develop feasible harm-reducing or therapeutic interventions. It has been suggested that gambling operators with responsible gambling intentions can intervene in order to identify and help reduce the harm in problem gamblers. However, user satisfaction, and the risk of negative reactions and gamblers’ transfer to other operators, rarely have been explored scientifically.MethodsThis is a retrospective survey study of gamblers reached by a motivational, telephone intervention by the Swedish state-owned gambling operator (Svenska Spel), addressing gamblers with indicators of high-risk gambling practices (n = 197). Surveys were answered approximately 10 days after the intervention.ResultsThirty-seven percent perceived their gambling to have decreased due to the intervention, whereas 7% perceived their gambling instead had increased. A large majority (80%) reported a subjective favorable experience from the intervention. Forty percent reported gambling on other operators than Svenska Spel after the intervention, but only 7% gambled on a new operator following the intervention.ConclusionSurvey data in gamblers reached with a motivational telephone intervention present mainly promising findings, and should be replicated in future studies in larger samples. The main findings display an overwhelmingly favorable subjective experience, and a limited risk of gamblers migrating to other operators.

Objectives: Adolescent gambling is a public health concern of increasing importance. The lack of comprehensive evaluations on adolescent gambling disorder (GD) assessment tools hinders the timely detection of Chinese adolescents with gambling problems. This study aimed to evaluate the psychometric properties of South Oaks Gambling Screen-Revised for Adolescents (SOGS-RA) and determine its optimal screening cutoff score among Chinese adolescent gamblers to address this gap.Methods: We surveyed 1407 Chinese secondary school students aged 11–19 years in Macao, China, among which 258 past-year gamblers’ data was used for assessing SOGS-RA’s performance in detecting risk for adolescent GD.Results: SOGS-RA displayed satisfactory reliability and validity for assessing probable GD among Chinese adolescent gamblers. Under the DSM-5 GD framework, we proposed ≥4 as SOGS-RA’s optimal cutoff score of screening for probable GD and further identified 5.8% of past-year gamblers prone to probable GD in the present study.Conclusion: SOGS-RA can provide a reliable and valid assessment of adolescent’ GD risk in the Chinese context, facilitate early identification of probable GD cases, and alleviate the public health concern for Chinese adolescents.

This paper presents an integrative review of research on domestic and family violence (DFV), including intimate partner violence (IPV), experienced by victims and perpetrators with a gambling problem. It aims to review, critique, and synthesize research on this topic to generate fresh and alternative perspectives to guide future research. Based on a systematic search of the academic literature and a targeted search of gray literature, the paper summarizes findings from empirical studies pertaining to the prevalence of perpetration and victimization, characteristics of perpetrators and victims, and explanations for this violence. Based on this review, the paper suggests several potential improvements that can be considered in future studies. These include a shift from focusing on situational violence to also include coercive control; greater sensitivity in research design and interpretation to gender differences in experiences of violence; and the need to include economic abuse as a form of DFV/IPV. Adopting a public health lens is also recommended to broaden the research focus from victims and perpetrators to also consider contextual factors. In particular, gambling research should examine the contribution of gambling products, practices, environments, and marketing to DFV/IPV and how this might be ameliorated. While research to date has drawn much needed attention to the risks that gambling presents for DFV/IPV, this review provides some suggestions for future research so that it can provide more nuanced findings to inform policy and practice.

BackgroundGambling disorder is the first non-substance-related addiction which is recognized as a diagnostic entity and assessed in treatment settings. However, in many clinical settings, assessment, and structured treatment for this condition is severely under-developed, and treatment seeking in many settings is low. This is a protocol paper describing the rationale and structure of a recently established quality register, allowing for structured monitoring of treatment seeking, treatment needs and treatment provision in Swedish health care settings, for gambling disorder and associated conditions.MethodsSince 2019, a Swedish quality register is in use for the systematic data collection from patients receiving treatment in specialized health care. The register is held by Region Skåne, and approved for national use. Swedish quality registers allow for the clinical monitoring of treatment uptake and needs, for quality improvement purposes, and collect systematic cohort data for these purposes. In addition, these quality registers potentially allow for future research projects, after separate ethics applications, allowing for clinical follow-up studies based on non-identified quality register data. Clinical challenges and research knowledge gaps are addressed in the present register, including mental health comorbidity, history of suicidal behavior, comorbid alcohol, drugs and gaming behaviors, and fundamental psycho-social variables such as violence victimization, concerned significant others including children's situation in families of problem gamblers, and main income and involvements with social services and enforcement agency. In addition, patient flows, including rates of referral from primary care and other treatment settings, can be followed. The overall quality register project is registered at clinicaltrials.gov (NCT05276193).DiscussionThe present protocol paper will allow for systematic reporting and future projects addressing knowledge gaps in clinical treatment for gambling disorder, and highlight the importance for evidence-based treatment in a behavioral addiction. Importantly, the current data will contribute to a better understanding of which patient groups may be less likely to seek or to be referred to treatment, and thereby may shape future initiatives to increase screening and referral in targeted, vulnerable groups.

Background: Over the last decade, the provision of online gambling has intensified with increased access, enhanced betting markets, a broader product range, and prolific marketing. However, little research has explored how this intensification is influencing contemporary gambling experiences. This study focused on two research questions: 1) What changes in online gambling have online gamblers observed over the past decade? 2) How have these changes influenced the online gambling experiences and behaviours reported by treatment-seeking and non-treatment-seeking gamblers?Methods: Two samples of Australian adults were interviewed: 1) 19 people who had been gambling online for at least a decade and with no history of treatment-seeking for online gambling, and 2) 10 people who had recently sought professional help for an online gambling problem. Telephone interviews were semi-structured, with questions that encouraged participants to consider how their online gambling, including any harmful gambling, had been influenced by changes in operator practices and online gambling environments. Data were analysed using thematic analysis.Results: Both treatment- and non-treatment-seekers noted the increased speed and ease of online gambling, which now enables instant access from anywhere at any time and increased their gambling opportunities. Both groups highlighted the continued proliferation of advertising and inducements for online gambling, particularly during televised sports and racing events, in social media, and through targeted push marketing. Many treatment- and non-treatment-seekers were aware of the vast range of recently introduced bet types, particularly multi-bets. Treatment-seekers disproportionately reported negative effects from these changes, and described how and why they fostered their increased gambling, impulsive gambling, persistence and loss-chasing. They reported limited uptake and effectiveness of current harm minimisation tools.Conclusions: Counter to stated policy and practice objectives to minimise gambling harm, industry changes that have made online gambling easier, faster, and more heavily incentivised, and increased the array of complex bets with poorer odds, unduly affect addicted and harmed individuals - who are also the most profitable customers. Further consideration is needed to ensure gambling policy, industry practices and public health measures more effectively reduce gambling harm in contemporary settings. Inducements and the poor pricing of complex bets such as multi-bets, and their outsized attraction to players with problems, should be a key focus. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: This study examined past year attempts to reduce or quit gambling among people who gamble generally and those with gambling problems specifically. Methods: Regular gamblers recruited from an online panel (N = 10,054) completed a survey of gambling, mental health and substance use comorbidity and attempts to reduce or quit gambling. The sample was weighted to match the gambling and demographic profile for the same subsample (i.e., past month gamblers) in a recent Canadian national survey. Results: 5.7% reported that they tried to cutback or stop gambling in the past year. As predicted, individuals making a change attempt had greater levels of problem gambling severity and were more likely to have a gambling problem. Of individuals with problem gambling, 59.8% made a change attempt. Of those, 90.2% indicated that they did this primarily on their own, and 7.7% accessed formal or informal treatment. Most people attempting self-change indicated that this was a personal preference (55%) but about a third reported feeling too ashamed to seek help. Over a third (31%) reported that their attempt was successful. Of the small group of people accessing treatment, 39% described it as helpful. Conclusions: Whereas gambling treatment-seeking rates are low, rates of self-change attempts are high. The public health challenge is to promote self-change efforts among people beginning to experience gambling problems, facilitate success at self-change by providing accessible support for use of successful strategies, and provide seamless bridges to a range of other treatments when desired or required. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Several studies have explored the association between gambling disorder (GD) and gambling-related crimes. However, it is still unclear how the commission of these offenses influences treatment outcomes. In this longitudinal study we sought: (1) to explore sociodemographic and clinical differences (e.g., psychiatric comorbidities) between individuals with GD who had committed gambling-related illegal acts (differentiating into those who had had legal consequences (n = 31) and those who had not (n = 55)), and patients with GD who had not committed crimes (n = 85); and (2) to compare the treatment outcome of these three groups, considering dropouts and relapses. Several sociodemographic and clinical variables were assessed, including the presence of substance use, and comorbid mental disorders. Patients received 16 sessions of cognitive-behavioral therapy. Patients who reported an absence of gambling-related illegal behavior were older, and showed the lowest GD severity, the most functional psychopathological state, the lowest impulsivity levels, and a more adaptive personality profile. Patients who had committed offenses with legal consequences presented the highest risk of dropout and relapses, higher number of psychological symptoms, higher likelihood of any other mental disorders, and greater prevalence of tobacco and illegal drugs use. Our findings uphold that patients who have committed gambling-related offenses show a more complex clinical profile that may interfere with their adherence to treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Voluntary self-exclusion from gambling is a common harm reduction option for individuals with gambling problems. Multi-operator, nationwide self-exclusion services are rare, and a system introduced in the highly web-based gambling market of Sweden is a rare and recent example. However, where web-based casino gambling and web-based betting are the predominate gambling types in those seeking treatment, the risk of breaching one's own self-exclusion through overseas web-based operators may also be high. Objective: This study aims to assess the prevalence of a nationwide Spelpaus ("gambling break") self-exclusion and the prevalence of gambling despite self-exclusion in patients seeking treatment for gambling disorder in 2021. Methods: Health care documentation of recent treatment seekers (January 1 through September 1, 2021, N=85) in a Swedish treatment facility was reviewed for data regarding problematic gambling types reported, history of self-exclusion, and history of breaching of that self-exclusion. Results: Common problem gambling types were web-based casino gambling (49/74, 66%) and sports betting (19/74, 26%). The majority who participated in this study (62/85, 73%) were men. All women reported web-based casino gambling. Self-exclusion through Spelpaus was common (60/74, 81%). Among self-excluders, gambling despite self-exclusion was common (41/60, 68%), most commonly on unlicensed gambling websites. Conclusions: The nationwide, multi-operator self-exclusion service of Sweden appears to reach many patients with a gambling disorder. However, the remaining gambling options in an web-based gambling setting present a major challenge despite self-exclusion. The recent data calls for further treatment efforts and potential improvements in services aiming to help voluntary self-excluders abstain from gambling. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Blaszczynski and Nower conceptualized in 2002 an integrative Pathways Model leading to gambling disorder by postulating three subtypes of individuals with problem gambling characterized by common and specific characteristics (sociodemographic features, comorbidities, psychological factors). Here we propose a clinical illustration that fits each subtype. For each pathway, we (1) describe a corresponding clinical case, (2) propose a symptom-based clinical description, and (3) elaborate a process-based case formulation to explain the development and maintenance of the problematic gambling behavior. We argue that the clinical work with patients benefited from this two-level approach (symptoms vs. psychological processes) combined with a more holistic approach that takes into account intrapersonal (e.g. personality), interpersonal (e.g. family functioning), and environmental variables (e.g. life events). Crucially, our approach not only considers psychopathological dimensions (e.g. symptoms, diagnostic criteria), but it also views as central individual differences (personality traits) and cognitive and affective processes postulated to mediate relationships between biopsychosocial antecedents and psychopathological symptoms. In the current paper, we aim to demonstrate how the Pathways Model can be used as a framework to embrace a holistic perspective that promotes individualized and process-centered psychological interventions for individuals with gambling problems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Blaszczynski and Nower established the Pathways model as an integrative theoretical framework for subtyping GD. Within this framework, they propose three etiological subtypes of problem gamblers: (a) behaviorally conditioned, (b) emotionally vulnerable, and (c) antisocial impulsivist gamblers. The current systematic review was conducted to evaluate the validity and clinical utility of the Pathways model and other subtyping models, providing an update to a previous systematic review. A literature search was conducted using the PubMed, PsycINFO, and Web of Science databases. Included articles were written in English, and published in a peer-reviewed journal between 2010 and 2021. The articles used empirical methods to derive subtypes from a sample of individuals who gamble, including both qualitative and quantitative methods. In total, 38 articles were included in this review. Articles are presented as consistent with Pathways or as utilizing another subtyping schema. Evaluation of the literature reveals that use of the Pathways model appears to be influential in efforts to subtype gamblers over the last decade. Other subtyping schemas that emphasize symptom severity and comorbid psychopathology may be incorporated into the Pathways model. Gaps in the current literature and future directions are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: From a clinical perspective, knowledge of the psychological processes involved in maintaining gambling disorder has been lacking. This qualitative study formulated hypotheses on how gambling disorder is maintained by identifying clinically relevant behaviors at an individual level, as a means to guide the development of new cognitive behavioral interventions. Methods: Six individuals from a treatment study, diagnosed with gambling disorder and with diverse symptom profiles of psychiatric comorbidity, were recruited. Participants were interviewed using an in-depth semi-structured functional interview and completed self-report measures assessing gambling behavior. Results: Functional analysis was used as a theoretical framework for a thematic analysis, which yielded the following categories: 1) antecedents that may increase or decrease gambling; 2) experiences accompanying gambling; 3) control strategies; 4) consequences of gambling behavior; and 5) events terminating gambling behavior. Few differences were identified in relation to symptom profiles of psychiatric comorbidity, although some gamblers did not report experiencing abstinence when not being able to gamble. Conclusions: Gambling is a secluded activity mainly triggered by access to money. Positive and negative emotions could be both antecedents and functions of gambling behavior. Avoidance-based strategies used to control gambling might result in a failure to learn to control gambling behavior. Anticipation, selective attention, and chasing could be important reinforcers, which should be addressed in new developments in cognitive behavioral treatment for gambling disorder. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Aims: The pathways model is a highly cited etiological model of problem gambling. In the past two decades, a number of studies have found support for the model's utility in classifying gambling subtypes. The aims of this paper were to refine empirically the model subtypes and to revise and update the model based on those findings. Design and Measurement: Observational study using data collected from treatment‐seeking problem gamblers using the Problem Gambling Severity Index (PGSI) and the Gambling Pathways Questionnaire (GPQ). Setting: Treatment clinics in Canada, Australia and the United States. Participants: A convenience sample of 1168 treatment‐seeking problem gamblers, aged 18 years or older. Findings Empirically validated risk factors were analyzed using latent class analyses, identifying a three‐class solution as the best‐fitting model. Those in the largest class (class 1: 44.3%, n = 517) reported the lowest levels of all etiological risk factors. Participants in class 2 (39.5%, n = 461) reported the highest rates of anxiety and depression, both before and after gambling became a problem, as well as childhood maltreatment, and a high level of gambling for stress‐coping. Those in class 3 (16.3%, n = 190) reported high levels of impulsivity; risk‐taking, including sexual risk‐taking; antisocial traits; and coping to provide meaning in life and to alleviate stress. Conclusions: The revised pathways model of problem gambling includes three classes of gamblers similar to the three subtypes in the original pathways model, but class 3 in the revised pathways model is distinct from class 2, showing higher levels of risk‐taking and antisocial traits and gambling motivated by a desire for meaning/purpose and/or to alleviate stress. Class 2 in the revised pathways model demonstrates high levels of childhood maltreatment as well as gambling for stress‐coping. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The risk for behavioral addictions is rising among women within the general population and in clinical settings. However, few studies have assessed treatment effectiveness in females. The aim of this work was to explore latent empirical classes of women with gambling disorder (GD) and buying/shopping disorder (BSD) based on the treatment outcome, as well as to identify predictors of the different empirical groups considering the sociodemographic and clinical profiles at baseline. Method: A clinical sample of n = 318 women seeking treatment for GD (n = 221) or BSD (n = 97) participated. Age was between 21 to 77 years. Results: The four latent-classes solution was the optimal classification in the study. Latent class 1 (LT1, good progression to recovery) grouped patients with the best CBT outcomes (lowest risk of dropout and relapses), and it was characterized by the healthiest psychological state at baseline, the lowest scores in harm avoidance and self-transcendence, and the highest scores in reward dependence, persistence, self-directedness and cooperativeness. Latent classes 3 (LT3, bad progression to drop-out) and 4 (LT4, bad progression to relapse) grouped women with the youngest mean age, earliest onset of the addictive behaviors, and worst psychological functioning. Conclusions: GD and BSD are complex conditions with multiple interactive causes and impacts, which need wide and flexible treatment plans. Specific interventions should be designed according to the specific profiles of women for achieving early inclusion, retention and well-maintained long-term effects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Older subjects are susceptible to develop gambling problems, and researchers have attempted to assess the mechanisms underlying the gambling profile in later life. The objective of this study was to identify the main stressful life events (SLE) across the lifespan which have discriminative capacity for detecting the presence of gambling disorder (GD) in older adults. Data from two independent samples of individuals aged 50+ were analysed: N = 47 patients seeking treatment at a Pathological Gambling Outpatient Unit and N = 361 participants recruited from the general population. Sexual problems (p < 0.001), exposure to domestic violent behaviour (p < 0.001), severe financial problems (p = 0.002), alcohol or drug-related problems (p = 0.004) and extramarital sex (p < 0.001) were related to a higher risk of GD, while getting married (p = 0.005), moving to a new home (p = 0.003) and moving to a new city (p = 0.006) decreased the likelihood of disordered gambling. The accumulated number of SLE was not a predictor of the presence of GD (p = 0.732), but patients who met clinical criteria for GD reported higher concurrence of SLE in time than control individuals (p < 0.001). Empirical research highlights the need to include older age groups in evidence-based policies for gambling prevention, because these individuals are at high risk of onset and/or progression of behavioural addiction-related problems such as GD. The results of this study may be useful for developing reliable screening/diagnostic tools and for planning effective early intervention programmes aimed to reduce the harm related to the onset and evolution of problem gambling in older adults. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Background and aims: Recovery is a challenge for individuals coping with a gambling disorder (GD). Recovery capital (RC) is a conceptual framework describing positive external and internal (e.g., human, social, community and financial) resources that promote recovery. Negative RC relates to external and internal obstacles to recovery. To date, no scale has captured both positive and negative RC items in the gambling field. Based on the RC framework, this pilot study aimed to develop The Holistic Recovery Capital in Gambling Disorder (HRC-GD) instrument, and to explore its associations with recovery status, measures of psychopathology and happiness. We hypothesized that higher HRC-GD scores will be positively related to recovery and subjective happiness, but negatively linked to depression, anxiety, and gambling severity. Method: Recovered and non-recovered individuals with a lifetime DSM-5 GD (n = 164) completed the HRC-GD instrument, the DSM-5 GD diagnostic criteria, and measures of depression, anxiety, and subjective happiness. Results: Through a process of item reduction, which included a principal components analysis, 19 items were retained. Since exploratory factor analysis (EFA) yielded uninterpretable findings, an index score reflecting human, financial, community, and social resources and obstacles was calculated. HRC-GD index scores were negatively correlated with anxiety, depression, and GD symptom severity, but positively related with subjective happiness. Index scores were significantly associated with recovery status. Conclusions: The HRC-GD index holds promise as a new tool for measuring RC in GD. Additional research is needed to validate this index using larger and more ethnically and gender diverse clinical and community samples of individuals with GD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and aims: Attentional bias to gambling-related stimuli is associated with increased severity of gambling disorder. However, the addiction-related moderators of attentional bias among those who gamble are largely unknown. Impulsivity is associated with attentional bias among those who abuse substances, and we hypothesized that impulsivity would moderate the relationship between disordered electronic gaming machine (EGM) gambling and attentional bias. Methods: We tested whether facets of impulsivity, as measured by the UPPS-P (positive urgency, negative urgency, sensation seeking, lack of perseverance, lack of premeditation) and the Barratt Impulsiveness Scale-11 (cognitive, motor, non-planning) moderated the relationship between increased severity of gambling disorder, as measured by the Problem Gambling Severity Index (PGSI), and attentional bias. Seventy-five EGM players participated in a free-viewing eye-tracking paradigm to measure attentional bias to EGM images. Results: Attentional bias was significantly correlated with Barratt Impulsiveness Scale-11 (BIS-11) motor, positive urgency, and negative urgency. Only positive and negative urgency moderated the relationship between PGSI scores and attentional bias. For participants with high PGSI scores, higher positive and negative urgency were associated with larger attentional biases to EGM stimuli. Discussion: The results indicate that affective impulsivity is an important contributor to the association between gambling disorder and attentional bias. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and aims: Purchasing loot boxes in digital games is akin to gambling as it involves risking money for a chance-based reward of uncertain value. Research has linked buying loot boxes to problem gambling amongst adolescents, but has not examined co-occurring gambling participation. This study examined links between loot box purchasing and problem gambling amongst adolescents while controlling for monetary gambling participation. Methods: Two survey samples of Australians aged 12–17 years were recruited through advertisements (n = 843) and online panels (n = 826). They included n = 421 and n = 128 adolescents, respectively, who met criteria for problem gambling. Results: Past-month loot box purchasing was significantly related to gambling problems in bivariate analyses. When including age, gender and past-month monetary gambling, loot box purchases were still associated with at-risk and problem gambling in both samples. As expected, these other predictors attenuated the predictive value of recent loot box purchases in relation to gambling problems. The odds-ratios, nevertheless, were still in the predicted direction and remained significant. When controlling for monetary gambling, age and gender, recent loot box purchasing increased the odds of problem gambling 3.7 to 6.0 times, and at-risk gambling 2.8 to 4.3 times. Discussion and conclusions: While causal relationships between loot box purchasing and problem gambling remain unclear, the results indicate that loot boxes disproportionately attract adolescents experiencing gambling problems, adding to the financial stress already caused by gambling. Consumer protection measures, youth and parental education, and age restrictions on loot box games are needed to protect young people. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and aims: Gambling-related harm to concerned significant others (CSOs) is an important public health issue since it reduces CSOs’ health and wellbeing in numerous life domains. This study aimed to 1) estimate the first national prevalence of CSOs harmed by gambling in Australia; 2) identify the characteristics of CSOs most at risk of harm from another person’s gambling; 3) compare the types and number of harms experienced by CSOs based on their relationship to the person who gambles; and 4) compare the number of harms experienced by CSOs by self-identified gender. Methods: Based on a national CATI survey weighted to population norms, 11,560 respondents reported whether they had been personally and negatively affected by another person’s gambling in the past 12 months; and if so, answered detailed questions about the harms experienced from the person’s gambling who had harmed them the most. Results: Past-year prevalence of gambling-related harm to adult Australian CSOs was (6.0%; 95% CI 5.6%–6.5%). CSOs most commonly reported emotional harms, followed by relationship, financial, health and vocational harms, respectively. Former partners reported the most harm, followed by current partners, other family members and non-family members, respectively. Female CSOs were more likely to report more harm and being harmed by a partner or other family member, and male CSOs from a non-family member. Discussion and conclusions: The findings provide new insights into the wider societal burden of gambling and inform measures aimed at reducing harm to CSOs from gambling and supporting them to seek help. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this commentary paper, it is discussed if Compulsive Sexual Behavior Disorder (CSBD) is best categorized as an Impulse Control Disorder, an Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder or in light of the overlap of characteristics with both Gaming and Gambling Disorder as an addictive behavior. The overlapping features are: loss of control over the respective excessive behavior, giving increasing priority to the excessive behavior under investigation and upholding such a behavior despite negative consequences. Besides empirical evidence regarding underlying mechanisms, phenomenology also plays an important role to correctly classify CSBD. The phenomenological aspects of CSBD clearly speak in favor of classifying CSBD under the umbrella of addictive behaviors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Gambling disorder (GD) is a form of behavioral addiction. In recent years, it has been suggested that the application of transcranial Direct Current Stimulation (tDCS) to the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC), which plays a key role in top-down inhibitory control and impulsivity, may represent a new therapeutic approach for treating addictions. Here we investigated the effectiveness of a novel low dose tDCS protocol (i.e. six sessions of right anodal/left cathodal tDCS for 20 min, with a current intensity of 1 mA) applied to DLPFC in a patient with GD. To evaluate the effect of the proposed intervention, cognitive, psychological and behavioural evaluations were performed at different time points, pre and post intervention. The results showed improvement of impulsivity, decision making, and cognitive functioning after tDCS intervention. Findings of the present study suggest that low doses of right anodal/left cathodal tDCS to DLPFC may effectively improve gambling behaviour. They also suggest to carefully evaluate the effects of this tDCS polarity on the patient's emotional state. The current protocol warrants further investigation in large groups of patients, as it may provide relevant insights into the design of effective, low dose treatments of gambling disorder. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]