Suicidality in Non-Treatment Seeking Young Adults with Subsyndromal Gambling Disorder

Abstract

Gambling Disorder is associated with elevated rates of suicidal thoughts and acts. However, virtually nothing is known about suicidality in people with subsyndromal forms of gambling disorder. A total of 174 non-treatment seeking subjects were recruited for a study of impulsivity and met criteria for a subsyndromal form of DSM-5 gambling disorder (31.0 % females; mean age = 21.7 ± 3.61 years). Subjects were categorized as being 'at risk of suicide' or 'no suicide risk' based on the Mini-International Neuropsychiatric Interview (MINI). Those with and without suicidality were compared on clinical and cognitive measures. 32 (18.4 %) met MINI criteria for suicidality. Suicidality was significantly associated with mood and anxiety disorders, greater rates of nicotine consumption, and relative impairments in decision-making and cognitive flexibility. These findings suggest that decision-making impairments may be implicated in the development of both gambling problems and suicidality. Future work should address causality, neural correlates, and tailored suicide prevention strategies for people with, or at risk for, disordered forms of gambling.

Anxiety, Gambling Activity, and Neurocognition: A Dimensional Approach to a Non-Treatment-Seeking Sample

“…(2014) used a subsyndromal GD sample and found an association between suicidality and anxiety disorders. However, the assessment of suicidality did not control for other mental disorders as this study did.…”

“…The annual cost of GD is approximately 5 billion US dollars within the United States alone (National Gambling Impact Study Commission & James, 1999). Subsyndromal gambling is also a notable concern, and is defined as a significant gambling activity that does not meet full DSM-5 criteria for GD (Grant, Derbyshire, Leppink, & Chamberlain, 2014). Subsyndromal gamblers also show high rates of depression, anxiety disorders, substance-use disorders, financial, legal, family, and professional problems (Cunningham-Williams et al., 1998; Desai, 2004; Gerstein et al., 1999; Grall-Bronnec et al., 2012; Potenza, Maciejewski, & Mazure, 2006; Shaffer & Korn, 2002; Welte, Barnes, Wieczorek, Tidwell, & Parker, 2001).…”

“…Subsyndromal gamblers also show high rates of depression, anxiety disorders, substance-use disorders, financial, legal, family, and professional problems (Cunningham-Williams et al., 1998; Desai, 2004; Gerstein et al., 1999; Grall-Bronnec et al., 2012; Potenza, Maciejewski, & Mazure, 2006; Shaffer & Korn, 2002; Welte, Barnes, Wieczorek, Tidwell, & Parker, 2001). Therefore, it is likely that gambling symptoms present on a continuum, and that symptoms should be assessed across the spectrum of gambling behavior (Cunningham-Williams et al., 1998; Eisen et al., 2001; Gerstein et al., 1999; Grant et al., 2014; Shaffer, Hall, & Vander Bilt, 1999; Shaffer & Korn, 2002; Slutske et al., 2000; Toce-Gerstein et al., 2003; Welte et al., 2001). …”

Suicidal Behavior Predictors In Adolescents With Gaming Addiction

“…Other authors' studies have revealed an increased suicidal behavior risk in people with affective and eating disorders. Thus, a high suicidal activity was found in people with mood disorders, anxiety (Grant, Derbyshire, Leppink, & Chamberlain, 2014), in people with neurotic symptoms (Cowlishaw & Kessler, 2016), as well as due to the use of psychoactive substances, addictive disorders (Bosc, Fatseas, Alexandre, & Auriacombe, 2012). https://doi.org/10.15405/epsbs.2020.01.83 Corresponding Author: K. V. Pyrkova Selection and peer-review under responsibility of the Organizing Committee of the conference eISSN: 770 As part of the third research direction, a number of works should be indicated on the family factor influence on the occurrence of suicidal readiness (Black et al, 2015;Jones et al, 2015).…”

Effects of a workplace prevention programme for problem gambling: study protocol for a cluster randomised controlled trial

“…1 PG may lead to both social and economic losses 1 and has been associated with poor general health 2 and elevated rates of suicidal thoughts and acts. 3 4 Furthermore, PG is associated with a higher prevalence of anxiety and depression compared with the normal population. 5 In Sweden, the estimated point prevalence of PG is approximately 2%, and the condition is classified as a public health problem.…”