Gambling addiction

Generality

Gambling addiction, or pathological gambling, is the overwhelming desire to gamble repeatedly, even in spite of the great risk that is taken whenever you wager sums of money.

The precise causes of gambling addiction are unknown; according to some researchers, certain biological, environmental and genetic factors would have an "influence.
The symptomatological picture consists of anomalous and completely singular behaviors, such as: feeling excitement every time you play large sums of money, not admitting to being a player, taking time away from work to gamble, etc.
If not treated properly, gambling addiction can lead to serious complications: from the onset of serious financial and legal problems to even suicide.

What is gambling addiction?

Gambling addiction, or pathological gambling or ludomania, is the uncontrollable desire, and with chronic contours, to gamble, in spite of the risks that lie behind such behavior and despite the initial desire not to give up on " gamble.

ANALOGIES WITH THE DEPENDENCE ON SUBSTANCES

According to the latest version of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5), published in 2013, gambling addiction is one of the so-called substance addictions. In fact, it is at the origin of symptoms and behaviors similar to those it manifests those who abuse alcohol, cocaine etc.
This recent view of gambling addiction differs from that of some time ago, according to which gambling was one of the so-called "impulse control disorders"; in other words it was similar to psychiatric illnesses such as kleptomania or pyromania, which they provoke in the wearer an irrepressible desire to commit a harmful gesture for himself and for others.

What is DSM?
The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders is a collection of all the peculiar characteristics of known psychic and mental illnesses, including the respective criteria for diagnosis.
Written by the American Psychiatric Association, the latest version - the fifth - was published on May 18, 2013.

Causes

Researchers have long been debating what the precise causes of gambling addiction are.
According to several research groups, the irrepressible desire to gamble is the result of a combination of biological, genetic and environmental factors.

BIOLOGICAL BASES OF THE DISEASE

In trying to give a biological explanation for gambling addiction, some scientists have noted that:

In many pathological gamblers (ie those addicted to gambling) the level of norepinephrine at the time of play is lower than the level of norepinephrine in casual gamblers (ie those not addicted to gambling). ). Norepinephrine is a neurotransmitter secreted in abundance under stress, in conditions of excitement and in dangerous situations.
The first studies on the combination of gambling and norepinephrine date back to 1988, by a certain Alec Roy.
Winning gambling produces the same brain reactions that occur when a drug addict injects a dose of cocaine. This observation is the result of a particular experiment, consisting in the recording, by functional magnetic resonance, of the brain reactions in winning gamblers. or losers.
This study was conducted by the "Harvard Medical School's Division on Addictions, in agreement with Hans Breiter, co-director of the Motivation and Emotional Neuroscience Center to the General Hospital of Massachusetts.

IMPORTANCE OF THE ENVIRONMENT

According to some scholars, the "environment - where by environment s" means the social class of belonging, the culture of a country, the mass media, etc. - would be more influential than biology.
To demonstrate the validity of this thesis, the advocates of the "importance of the environment" report what has happened in the United Kingdom in recent years: since, in 2007, it has been legal to advertise, via radio and television, betting sites, casinos and bookmakers, the number of gamblers has grown significantly.

RISK FACTORS

Anyone can get sick of gambling addiction, however the appearance of this disorder is more frequent in:

People with other mood or behavior disorders. Classic examples are people who abuse substances or people with ADHD (attention deficit hyperactivity disorder)
People of middle or young age.
Male subjects. Women start playing later than men.
People with gambling addicted family members.
People taking certain medications for Parkinson's and restless legs syndrome. The offending drugs are some dopamine agonists.
People with certain characters. Very competitive people, people who tend to have delusions and restless individuals are particularly prone to develop gambling addiction.

Symptoms and Complications

Gambling addicted individuals experience the following symptoms and signs:

They get a thrill whenever they take a big risk by gambling.
They tend to take bigger and bigger risks.
They live and care about gambling.
They gamble to escape from depression, from weaknesses or from some duties imposed by life.
They take time away from work or family to gamble.
They lie about everything related to gambling or hide that they have a gambling addiction.
They feel guilty or remorse after playing.
They ask for loans or steal money in order to play.
They repeatedly abandon any resolve not to gamble anymore.

HOW DOES THE GAME VICE START AND HOW DOES IT EVOLVE?

In most cases, gambling addiction is a disorder that develops over time, after so many games. In fact, it is very rare for an individual to become a pathological gambler after a single bet.
Studies on gamblers have revealed that depression and stress accentuate the need to take risks at gambling, as if it were an escape from the problems of life.

IS IT FOR THE NEED OF MONEY?

According to some research, many gamblers wager large sums of money not so much because they hope to win big money, but because of the excitement and thrill that big stakes cause.
After all, if it were for the money, the luckiest gambling addicts who win large sums of money would have to stop playing. Instead they continue and this clearly distinguishes them from non-pathological players, who, once they have achieved a great victory, stop.

ATTENTION TO REMISSION WITHOUT CARE

Sometimes, gambling addicts can, even without special care, stop gambling. However, it is very often a temporary remission: sooner or later the desire to gamble reappears.

WHEN TO CONTACT AN EXPERT?

A person with gambling addiction hardly realizes or admits that they suffer from any disorder. In fact, he tends to hide his vice and lie about it.
For this reason it is good that relatives and friends, who are familiar with the situation, convince the loved one with the habit of gambling to contact a doctor expert in mental / psychological diseases and to receive the appropriate treatment.
Expert intervention is essential when gambling addiction:

It interferes with interpersonal relationships, one's financial resources and work (or school career).
It absorbs much of a person's energy and time.
It is a problem that cannot be healed.
It is a disorder that is hidden in every way from relatives and friends.
It induces theft or fraud to acquire gambling money.
It induces to apply for economic loans, to gamble.

COMPLICATIONS

If not treated in time, a disorder such as gambling addiction leads, first of all, to serious financial problems and interpersonal problems (especially with relatives and friends).
Second, it can involve legal problems, imprisonment, job loss, the onset of other addictions (alcohol or drugs), depression and, in extreme cases, suicide.

Diagnosis

According to the DSM-5, a person is affected by gambling addiction if they suffer from or fall into 4 or more of the following situations:

The subject feels the need to risk large sums of money, especially because of the excitement that this risk entails.
The subject is restless and irritable whenever he is unable to play.
The subject attempts unsuccessfully to control or break the gambling habit.
Gambling represents, for the subject, the only concern of life (that is, it is a recurring thought).
The subject is inclined to play especially in moments of greater stress and sadness.
Game losses are a reason to play again.
The subject tells lies to hide the vice of the game.
As a result of gambling, interpersonal relationships, work, school career and finances are severely compromised.
The subject asks for a loan of money, in order to be able to play and face the gambling debts.

Treatment

Getting rid of gambling addiction isn't easy at all.
The two main therapeutic goals are:

Make patients aware of the ailment that afflicts them.
To let patients regain control of their actions, without being overwhelmed by the irrepressible desire to gamble.

To achieve these goals, those who treat gambling addiction mainly resort to psychotherapy, the administration of certain drugs and the help provided by support groups.
These are three different therapeutic approaches, which are able to provide good results only if practiced at the same time.

PSYCHOTHERAPY

There are two psychotherapy treatments that are implemented for the treatment of gambling addiction: the so-called behavioral therapy and the so-called cognitive-behavioral therapy.
Briefly, the aim of psychotherapy is to teach the patient the characteristics of the disease (what causes it, when the symptoms appear, etc.) and how to control the desire to gamble.

PHARMACOLOGICAL THERAPY

Drug therapy generally consists of:

Antidepressants and mood stabilizers. They are especially reserved for patients also suffering from depression, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder or obsessive-compulsive disorder.
Narcotic antagonists. They are those medicines that are also used in the treatment of substance addictions.

SUPPORT GROUP

The comparison with people affected by the same disorder and with those who have recovered from it greatly helps patients in their therapeutic path.

SOME ADVICES

During therapy, and even once healing is achieved, to avoid a relapse, it is advisable:

Avoid relationships with people who gamble and stay away from gambling environments.
If you are tempted to play or give in to the temptation to play, contact your doctor right away and confide in loved ones for support.
Remember that one bet in the game leads to another.
Do not forget what you have learned in psychotherapy, especially the tricks to overcome the desire to gamble.

Prevention

Not knowing exactly the causes of gambling addiction, doctors who are experts in mental illness cannot claim to know an absolutely effective method of prevention.
However, they believe that avoiding any contact with avid gamblers and places (the so-called gambling halls) where gambling is played can have an excellent preventive effect.