Disordered (pathologic or problem) gambling and axis I psychiatric disorders: results from the National Epidemiologic Survey on Alcohol and Related Conditions

Am J Epidemiol. 2011 Jun 1;173(11):1289-97. doi: 10.1093/aje/kwr017. Epub 2011 Apr 5.

Abstract

The authors' objective in this study was to examine the role of disordered gambling as a risk factor for the subsequent occurrence of specific Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fourth Edition, Axis I psychiatric disorders after adjusting for medical conditions, health-related quality of life, and stressful life events. Community-dwelling respondents from nationally representative US samples (n = 33,231) were interviewed in 2000-2001 and 2004-2005. Past-year disordered gambling at baseline was associated with the subsequent occurrence of any Axis I psychiatric disorder, any mood disorder, bipolar disorder, generalized anxiety disorder, posttraumatic stress disorder, any substance use disorder, alcohol use disorders, and alcohol dependence disorder after adjustment for sociodemographic variables. After simultaneous adjustment for medical conditions, health-related quality of life, and recent stressful life events, disordered gambling remained significantly related to any mood disorder, generalized anxiety disorder, posttraumatic stress disorder, alcohol use disorders, and alcohol dependence. The clinical implications of these findings are that treatment providers need to screen gambling patients for mood, anxiety, and substance use problems and monitor the possible development of later comorbid conditions.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Alcohol-Related Disorders / complications
  • Anxiety Disorders / complications
  • Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders
  • Female
  • Gambling / complications*
  • Humans
  • Life Change Events
  • Male
  • Mental Disorders / complications*
  • Middle Aged
  • Mood Disorders / complications
  • Quality of Life
  • Risk Factors
  • Socioeconomic Factors
  • Young Adult