To find the prevalence and causes of problem gambling, we searched medline.com for articles relating to gambling. These articles must have been peer-reviewed, written in English, and involve human subjects. In addition, they must address the health effects of gambling, as well as screening and treatment strategies. The articles found had a broad range of topics. However, only a few were relevant to our purposes. Listed below are the most relevant findings.
Problem gambling
Problem gambling can have serious consequences for a person. Gamblers should seek professional help if they feel they may have a gambling problem. These disorders affect people of all ages, income levels, and cultures. While most people develop a gambling problem as a means to win back money they have lost, many people develop it due to a variety of reasons. In some cases, a person may develop a gambling problem after a life-altering event, such as losing a job.
Types
While there are many different types of gambling, the ones that pose the most problems are card games, lottery tickets, office pools, and bets on games of skill. Although these are not the most harmful types of gambling, they are the most popular, and may not be the most responsible for gambling-related problems. Problem gamblers often participate in more than one type of gambling, including the lottery, casino games, and poker. Their problem gambling tends to involve impulsiveness, high novelty seeking, and a desperate hope that a big win will cover their losses.
Treatments
Although the negative consequences of a gambling addiction are far-reaching, treatments are available. These services include counseling, family therapy, and even medications. Gambling addiction may also be related to mental health problems or substance abuse. For this reason, finding the right treatment may be the key to recovery. This article will examine some of the most effective treatments available. But before you make the decision to seek treatment for a gambling disorder, consider the following facts:
Prevalence
To estimate the prevalence of gambling, we used literature from multiple databases, including PubMed, Scopus, PsycINFO, and ScienceDirect. In addition, we included studies involving regional samples with a representative sample of the population. These studies were analyzed using a number of different criteria, including whether they were published since 2000 and cite prevalence rates for pathological gambling or problem gambling among adult populations. We also included information on the gender, age, and ethnicity of participants.
Impact on health
The research on the impact of gambling on health explored the nature, extent, and causes of this harm. Results support the concept of a continuum and identify complex drivers and predictors of future health issues. These findings suggest that policy/legislation should be developed to reduce the impact of gambling on health. However, the research did not address whether or not gambling is harmful to the individual. Rather, it focused on the community, including gambling-affected individuals.
Symptoms
While compulsive gambling affects both men and women equally, women are generally more likely to start gambling. They may also be more prone to addiction than men. While male and female patterns have historically been quite different, gambling problems are increasingly common in both sexes. Other contributing factors include a family history of gambling, medications taken to treat restless legs syndrome, and personality traits. For example, gambling is much more likely to affect women than men, but men are more likely to start the habit at a younger age.