What is Gambling Disorder?
Gambling is a form of risk-taking in which an individual places a bet or stake on an event with an uncertain outcome. Historically, gambling was limited to the use of dice and cards, but modern technology has allowed for the proliferation of various types of gambling activities, including online betting sites, lotteries, and video games that incorporate gambling elements. Gambling is a common activity among many adults and adolescents in the United States, with the majority of participants engaging in the behavior without experiencing negative consequences. However, a subset of individuals develops gambling disorder, which is described in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5) as a persistent recurrent pattern of gambling that causes significant distress or impairment.
There are a number of key signs that you might be suffering from a problem with gambling. These include: feeling compelled to gamble secretly and lie about how much you are spending; lying to family members, friends or therapists in order to conceal your gambling habits; hiding money, jewellery or other items in your house; being unable to pay bills; using credit cards excessively; taking out payday loans; borrowing from friends or family in order to fund your gambling; missing important events to gamble; and relying on others for money to finance your gambling. It is not uncommon for people who experience gambling problems to report feelings of hopelessness or suicidal thoughts. It is also possible for your financial situation to deteriorate, resulting in unpaid bills, overdue debts and even a repossession or foreclosure of your home. In these cases, it is vital to seek help and support as soon as possible to avoid worsening your circumstances.
A large percentage of people who engage in gambling do not have a problem, but some individuals will continue to gamble even when they are losing money and this can lead to serious personal and financial problems. In addition, a large percentage of individuals with a gambling disorder will co-occur with other mental health and substance abuse disorders. In some instances, the symptoms of a gambling disorder may be mistaken for other disorders and this can make diagnosis and treatment more difficult.
There is no universally accepted nomenclature for diagnosing a gambling disorder as research scientists, psychiatrists and other treatment care clinicians frame questions about the relationship between gambling and these disorders differently according to their disciplinary training, specializations and world view. In addition, the prevalence of gambling in a culture may influence how these relationships are perceived and therefore how they are studied. Nevertheless, the development of a consistent terminology for gambling disorders is essential to advance the field of behavioral addictions. Specifically, it will allow researchers to compare data from different studies conducted with the same groups of participants and to determine whether specific variables are consistently associated with the development of gambling disorder. This will enable better comparisons between studies and will facilitate the development of effective treatment methods.