Psychological Distress as an Indicator of Co-Occurring Psychopathology among Treatment-Seeking Disordered Gamblers

Abstract

Disordered gamblers frequently present with concurrent anxiety, depressive, personality, and substance use disorders, which may complicate treatment. Although there is a need for a thorough assessment, some questionnaires may prove lengthy for clients and clinicians. Thus, there is a need for brief screens for identifying co-occurring psychopathology. The present study sought to examine whether a brief, self-report measure of psychological distress could indicate the presence of co-occurring psychopathology among an outpatient sample of disordered gamblers. At intake, 69 participants completed self-report measures of distress and gambling symptomatology, a personality inventory, and a structured interview for the diagnostic criteria for disordered gambling. Gamblers with greater elevations of psychological distress evidenced greater severity of gambling pathology. Clinically significant elevations were present for symptoms of depression, deviancy, and anxiety, but not substance abuse. Greater scores of psychological distress significantly predicted elevations of depression, deviancy, and anxiety. Sensitivity and specificity were evaluated and the findings supported that an average psychological distress score of 16 corresponded with the presence of co-occurring psychopathology. Clinicians treating disordered gamblers should consider screening for co-occurring psychopathology with brief, self-report measures of psychological distress.

Development and Verification of a Web Board Game Scale

“…The characteristics of online board gamers, which we referred to as gambling behaviors and psychological status, include impulsivity, mood, and attention. 7,8 Online gamblers are thought to have an introverted personality and depressed mood. 8 Based on an online survey, which in-cluded 10,838 internet-based poker players, Gainsbury et al 9 reported that internet-based poker players showed a greater tendency to "chase their losses" (i.e., seek to recoup lost bets by increasing their subsequent bets) than were offline gamblers.…”

“…7,8 Online gamblers are thought to have an introverted personality and depressed mood. 8 Based on an online survey, which in-cluded 10,838 internet-based poker players, Gainsbury et al 9 reported that internet-based poker players showed a greater tendency to "chase their losses" (i.e., seek to recoup lost bets by increasing their subsequent bets) than were offline gamblers. In a review of internet-based poker, factors predictive of excessive internet-based poker playing are suggested to be negative emotions, irrational beliefs, and impulsivity.…”

Effects of cognitive behavioral techniques for gambling on recovery defined by gambling, psychological functioning, and quality of life: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

“…The temporal relation between gambling harm and co-occurring psychological symptoms is not well understood, as there is evidence that psychological symptoms precede the onset of gambling harms (Kessler et al, 2008) and that gambling harms precede psychological symptoms (Afifi et al, 2016; Sundqvist & Rosendahl, 2019). However, it is well established that co-occurring psychological symptoms increase the complexity of clinical presentations (Peter et al, 2016; Pfund et al, 2017; Pietrzak & Petry, 2005).…”