Although sleep has been extensively studied in substance related disorders, it has yet to be examined as thoroughly in gambling-related disorders. The purpose of this study is to examine the relationship between gambling severity and sleep disturbances in a sample of non-treatment seeking gamblers (N = 96) using the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) and Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS). Mean ESS scores for recreational, problem, and pathological gamblers were 4.13, 5.81, and 8.69, respectively, with a significant difference between pathological gamblers and both problem (P = .007) and recreational gamblers (P < .001). Mean PSQI scores for recreational, problem, and pathological gamblers were 3.35, 5.30, and 5.44, respectively, with a significant difference in sleep quality between recreational and problem gamblers (P = .018), as well as recreational and pathological gamblers (P = .008). As the first study to use objective sleep measures, these findings will not only increase awareness of this relationship, but also provide a foundation on which others can investigate the benefits of screening and adjunct treatment for sleep disorders in the gambling population.

The purpose of this study is to investigate the relationship between sleep disturbances and gambling behavior. Data from the National Comorbidity Survey—Replication (NCS-R) was used to examine the relationship between three specific sleep complaints (difficulty initiating sleep [DIS], difficulty maintaining sleep [DMS], and early morning awakening [EMA]) and gambling behavior. Bivariate logistic regression models were used to control for potentially confounding psychiatric disorders and age. Almost half of respondents with problem gambling behavior (45.9%) and two thirds (67.7%) of respondents with pathological gambling behavior reported at least one sleep compliant. Compared to respondents with no gambling pathology, respondents with pathological gambling were significantly more likely to report at least one sleep complaint (Adjusted Odds Ratio [AOR] = 3.444, 95% CI = 1.538–7.713), to report all sleep complaints (AOR = 3.449, 95% CI = 1.503–7.914), and to report any individual complaint (DIS: OR = 2.300, 95% CI = 1.069–4.946; DMS: AOR = 4.604, 95% CI = 2.093–10.129; EMA: AOR = 3.968, 95% CI = 1.856–8.481). The relationship between problem gambling and sleep complaints were more modest (any sleep complaint: AOR = 1.794, 95% CI = 1.142–2.818; all three sleep complaints: AOR = 2.144, 95% CI = 1.169–3.931; DIS: AOR = 1.961, 95% CI = 1.204–3.194; DMS: AOR = 1.551, 95% CI = 0.951–2.529; EMA: AOR = 1.796, 95% CI = 1.099–2.935). Given the individual and societal ramifications linked with the presence of sleep problems, this study presents another health-related repercussion associated with gambling pathology rarely discussed in the literature.

We conducted a cross-sectional study investigating the extent of addictive disorders within a workers’ compensation (WC) clinic. We also examined the feasibility of substance abuse screening within the same clinic. In 2009, 100 patients were asked to complete the World Health Organization’s Alcohol, Smoking, Substance Involvement Screening Test (WHO-ASSIST) and the Current Opioid Misuse Measure (COMM). According to the WHO-ASSIST, we found that 46% of WC patients required intervention for at least one substance-related disorder (25% tobacco, 23% sedatives, 8% opioids), and according to the COMM, 46% screened positive for prescription opioid misuse. Importantly, the addition of this screening was brief, economical, and well accepted by patients. Further research should analyze the costs and benefits of detection and intervention of substance-related disorders in this setting.

This retrospective cohort study examined electronic medical records of HIV-positive patients in California (N=7,834) to find the prevalence of any psychiatric condition and the associations between several factors and the likelihood of these disorders. Approximately 53% of the patients in this study had a documented psychiatric condition, including 23% who had a mood disorder, 19% who had a substance-related disorder, and 16% who had an anxiety disorder. After controlling for potential confounders, significant positive associations (p<0.001) were found between female gender and the presence of any mood disorder (Adjusted Odds Ratio [95% Confidence Interval]=1.58[1.26–1.99]) or anxiety disorder (AOR=1.54[1.18–2.02]) and between homosexual orientation and the presence of any psychiatric condition (AOR=1.33[1.15–1.55]), mood disorder (AOR=1.71[1.42–2.07]), or anxiety disorder (AOR=1.41[1.22–1.88]). There were also significant negative associations between African American race and the presence of any psychiatric condition (AOR=0.68[0.60–0.77]), mood disorder (AOR=0.74[0.64–0.86]), anxiety disorder (AOR=0.43[0.36–0.52]), or substance-related disorder (AOR=0.78[0.67–0.91]) and between state/federal insurance and the presence of any psychiatric condition (AOR=0.70[0.62–0.79]), mood disorder (AOR=0.71[0.62–0.80]), or anxiety disorder (AOR=0.77[0.66–0.89]).