What is pathological gambling?
Pathological gambling is the addiction to gambling. It can lead to job loss, money problems, fraud, crime or problems in family relationships.
What are the symptoms of pathological gambling?
The most common symptoms of pathological gambling are:
- Being irritable or restless when trying to stop gambling or gamble less.
- Committing crimes to get money.
- Gambling larger amounts of money to win back what was previously lost.
- Lying about the amount of money spent on gambling.
- Losing a relationship, job or other opportunities.
- Constantly borrowing money.
- Gambling larger amounts of money to feel more excitement.
What are the causes of pathological gambling?
There are several causes of pathological gambling:
- History families with gambling problems.
- Mood disorders such as anxiety or depression.
- Personality disorders such as Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD).
- Substance abuse.
- Personality traits such as competitiveness, tendency to boredom or sensation seeking.
- Stressful situations.
- Increasing advertising of online games and gambling.
Can pathological gambling be prevented?
It is important to intervene at the first signs (exposure to gambling) to prevent the addiction from worsening.
What does the treatment of pathological gambling consist of?
The first step in the treatment of an addiction is always to recognize it. Once recognized, it can be treated with different therapies:
- Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT).
- Self-help and support groups.
- Some medications such as antidepressants or opioid antagonists, although it is still unclear how each patient reacts.