Pathological Gambling - Causes, Symptoms and Treatment

Pathological gambling is the inability to resist impulses to gamble, leading to severe personal or social consequences. Stressful situations can make gambling problems. Gambling is deeply rooted in American culture. Pathological gambling affects the gamblers, their families, their employers and the community. Pathologic gambling and problem gambling affect approximately 5 to 15 million. Americans and are common in young people. Pathological gambling affects 1-2% of adults, and up to 4% of adults living within 50 miles of a casino. It typically begins in early adolescence in men and between ages 20 and 40 in women. Pathological gambling is a brain disease that seems to be similar to disorders such as alcoholism and drug addiction. These disorders likely involve problems with the part of the brain associated with behaviors such as eating and sex. This part of the brain is sometimes called the "pleasure center" or dopamine reward pathway. Popular forms of illegal gambling, such as offtrack betting, back room casino games, and numbers. Pathological Gambling needs to gamble with increasing amounts of money in order to achieve the desired excitement. Pathological Gambling is restless or irritable when attempting to cut down or stop gambling. Gambles as a way of escaping from problems or of relieving a dysphoric mood (e.g., feelings of helplessness, guilt, anxiety, depression. has committed illegal acts such as forgery, fraud, theft, or embezzlement to finance gambling. after losing money gambling, often returns another day to get even ("chasing" one's losses). In people who develop pathological gambling, occasional gambling leads to habitual gambling.

Causes of Pathological Gambling

Common causes and risk factors of Pathological Gambling

• Lose relationships.
• Lose jobs.
• ComorbidConditions often present.
• Preoccupied with gambling.
• Loss of control.
• Commit illegal acts.

Signs and Symptoms of Pathological Gambling

Sign and symptoms of Pathological Gambling.

• Preoccupation.
• Tolerance.
• Withdrawal.
• Escape.
• Chasing.
• Loss of control

Treatment of Pathological Gambling

Common Treatment of Pathological Gambling

• There is evidence that the SSRI paroxetine is efficient in the treatment of pathological gambling.
• Most treatment for problem gambling involves counselling, step-based programs, self-help, peer-support, or a combination of these.
• Gambling counselling is usually delivered by professional counsellors who are often either qualified psychologists or social workers.
• Gambler's Anonymous uses a 12 step program adapted from Alcoholics Anonymous and also places an emphasis on peer suppport.
• Other step-based programs (some commercially operated) that are both specific to gambling and generic to addiction have also be used to treat problem gamblers.
• Growing method of treatment is peer support. With the advancement of online gambling, many gamblers experiencing issues use various online peer-support groups to aid their recovery.