Gambling disorder and imputability: from the nosographic revision to an expanded forensic assessment

Abstract

The gambling disorder (GD in the DSM-5) is an example of how the evolution of research has contributed to the nosographic review of complex psychopathological conditions, such as behavioral addictions, likewise other personality pathologies. Recently, the scientific and doctrinal debate has also affected the controversial issue of imputability, to assess in what terms this diagnostic picture can acquire the value of "infirmity" such as to undermine the ability to understand and the will of a subject under evaluation. However, it is always necessary to translate the clinical, and experimental, acquisitions in the exercise of the appraisal function and of technical consultancy. The proceedings is not the place for the experiments, and the only effective tool available for experts to manage the passage of new scientific acquisitions from the clinical/experimental to the forensic field is an accurate assessment, basing on the methodological criteria, for each individual case under consideration. Here we propose a path aimed at adapting the forensic assessment with respect to the clinical profile of pathological gambling, a valid example of the evolution of the mutual relationship between psychiatric/psychological sciences and jurisprudence, in terms of imputability.