Gaming, Substance use and Distress within a Cohort of Online Gamblers

Abstract

Background: The fifth edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5) included Internet Gaming Disorder (IGD) as a tentative diagnosis and inquires for additional research. The research on gaming is inconsistent regarding measurement approach and diagnostic cut-offs. Some scholars suggest the core approach, accentuating some of the diagnostic criteria to avoid pathologizing harmless behaviour. Also, the co-occurrence of gaming and other addictions, gambling in specifically, is frequently reported but poorly understood. The present study aimed to explore gaming within a population of online gamblers in order to evaluate the core approach but also to investigate the possible co-occurrence of different addictions.Design and methods: The present study is derived from material collected for a study on online gambling. The study addressed 1007 adult individuals from the general population who had gambled for money on an online casino site or an online betting site, on at least 10 occasions during the past 12 months.Results: Both the level of distress and problem gambling increased as the severity of gaming increased. The co-occurrence of problems with alcohol, illicit drug use/prescription sedatives/strong painkillers and gambling was roughly 50% among the addictive gamers.Conclusion: The present study suggests that the core approach manages to distinguish in severity of gaming in regards to interference and comorbidity. We also brought light to the occurrence of gaming within a population of gamblers and our results indicate that this specific group of addicted gamers are particularly burdened by co-occurrent addictive behaviours and severe distress. Significance for public health Internet gaming is a highly common recreational behaviour, mainly without negative consequences. However, most research agree on a pathological potential in gaming and the fifth edition of the DSM-5 included Internet Gaming Disorder as a tentative diagnosis and inquires for additional research. The research on gaming is inconsistent regarding measurement approach and diagnostic cut-offs. Some scholars suggest the “core approach”, which accentuates some of the diagnostic criteria in order to capture and differentiate truly pathological from harmless gaming behaviour. This study evaluates the core approach and explore gaming within a population of gamblers. The attention and interest of problems related to gaming and gambling in media, institutions such as schools, social services and other health institutions are huge. Despite this little is known about the co-occurrence of gaming and other addictions, gambling in specifically. Our findings are clinically relevant in screening and treatment of both problem gamers and problem gamblers.