Gambling involves wagering something of value on an event whose outcome is based on chance, such as flipping a coin or rolling a die. Some forms of gambling, such as betting on sports or horse races, involve skill, but most gambling is done with a random chance. The gambler risks money or personal possessions in an attempt to win a prize if the prediction they make is correct.
Some people can manage to overcome their gambling addiction without treatment, but many others require professional help. A few different types of therapy have been found effective for treating gambling disorders, including cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), psychodynamic therapy, and family therapy. In addition, some medications have been shown to be helpful in treating gambling disorder.
A person with a gambling problem often experiences difficulty controlling their behavior and is at risk of serious problems, such as financial, social, and health problems. Some of these problems include:
Several factors increase the likelihood of developing a gambling disorder, including family history and a tendency to gamble. Compulsive gambling can begin as early as adolescence, but is more likely to start in adulthood or later in life. It is also more common in men than women.
The development of a gambling disorder can be triggered by a number of events, such as relationship or work stressors, or by the loss of a job or other source of income. It may be exacerbated by mood disorders, such as depression or anxiety, which can cause gambling behavior or make the problem worse.
While many of the symptoms of gambling disorder are similar to those of other mental illnesses, such as anxiety and depression, there are a few key differences. For example, gambling disorder is more closely related to substance-related disorders than it is to impulse control disorders like kleptomania and trichotillomania (hair pulling). In fact, the American Psychiatric Association has moved pathological gambling into its own category of addictions in the latest edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, which was published this past May.
Longitudinal studies, which follow a group of individuals over time, are an important tool for understanding the development and maintenance of problem gambling behavior. Despite the challenges of obtaining funding for such a study, longitudinal data allow researchers to better understand how gambling behavior develops and changes, as well as how it is maintained.
It is also essential to recognize that compulsive gambling is a disorder and treat it just as one would any other disease. Behavioral treatments can be effective in helping people with gambling disorders break the cycle of behavior and gain control over their lives. Medications, such as antidepressants and atypical antipsychotics, can be used to treat depression and other mood disorders that are associated with gambling. Support groups, such as Gamblers Anonymous, can provide peer support and teach coping skills. Physical activity can also be an effective coping tool.