Pathological gambling among students at the Joseph KI-ZERBO University in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso: prevalence and associated factors

This study examined help seeking for gambling concerns among people with different levels of gambling problems. Ontario adults who had gambled more than dollars 100 (N=4,217) and who screened positive for a possible gambling problem (N=1,205) were classified according to gambling problem severity and asked about their experiences with gambling treatment. Only 6% of gamblers had ever accessed a service, including a self-help group or self-help materials. With self-help materials excluded, only 3% of gamblers (from 1% of those who met only the initial CLiP screening criteria to 53% of those with pathological gambling) had sought treatment for gambling. Few gamblers sought treatment for gambling problems; greater problem severity was associated with greater likelihood of using treatment, with self-help materials used most often. Further research is needed on why treatment seeking is low and on the effectiveness of self-help resources in reaching gamblers with problems in earlier stages.

Background and AimsStudies on self-determination theory (SDT) have placed satisfaction of basic psychological needs (autonomy, relatedness, and competence) at the core of well-being, whereas frustration of these needs results in multiple potentially unhealthy mental and behavioral patterns. This study analyzed how need satisfaction and frustration relate to the severity of gambling and gaming problems. MethodsA survey study with 18–75-year-old Finnish participants (N = 1530; 50.33% male) was conducted in April 2021. Basic psychological needs were measured with the Basic Psychological Need Satisfaction and Frustration Scale, mental health issues with the five-item Mental Health Inventory, gambling problems with the Problem Gambling Severity Index, and gaming problems with the Internet Gaming Disorder Test. Zero-inflated negative binomial analyses were conducted to examine how satisfaction and frustration of basic psychological needs, together with mental health issues, are associated with gaming and gambling problems. ResultsMental health issues were associated with gambling and gaming problems, but this association became nonsignificant when basic psychological needs were added to the model. However, better mental health still was associated with the absence of gaming problems. While need satisfaction had no association with the absence of gaming or gambling problems, need frustration was associated with increases in the severity of both gaming and gambling problems. DiscussionFrustration of basic psychological needs for autonomy, relatedness, and competence is associated with both gambling and gaming problems and should be considered when developing treatment and support for those who experience such problems.

Amino acids, such as valine, isoleucine and leucine compete with tyrosine and tryptophan for transport into the brain and might thus affect the central serotonin and catecholamine patterns. Furthermore, the excitatory amino acids glutamic acid, aspartic acid and glycine are known to act on the N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor, which is part of the reward system. Based on these facts, we have explored the role of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) amino acids in pathological gambling. Concentrations of amino acids were determined in CSF obtained from one female and 11 pathological male gamblers and 11 healthy male controls. In an ANCOVA with best subset regression, pathological male gamblers had higher CSF levels of the excitatory glutamic and aspartic acids, as well as of phenylalanine, isoleucine, citrulline and glycine. A negative contribution of glycine in interaction with the neuraxis distance might mirror a reduced spinal supply or an altered elimination of glycine in pathological gamblers. A decreasing CSF gradient from the first (0–6 ml) to the third (13–18 ml) CSF fraction was found for glutamic acid, glycine, leucine, isoleucine, lysine, ornithine and glutamine in both pathological gamblers and healthy controls. A decreasing gradient was found, however, for aspartic acid and phenylalanine in pathological male gamblers. The altered pattern of CSF amino acids in pathological gamblers might exert an influence on central monoamines as well as on N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor function.

Still Not on the Radar: Adolescent Risk and Gambling, Revisited

Gambling and alcohol problems commonly co-occur during emerging adulthood. Co-occurring problems may relates to personality factors, physical health, mental health and gambling belief systems. In a large sample of colleges students (N = 513), we examined alcohol, gambling and co-occurring problem groups relative to a group without alcohol or gambling problems from large sample of college students. Group differences were found on Constraint and Negative Emotionality (ps ≤ .05). All three groups had a higher score on gamblers’ beliefs of illusion of control compared to the group with no problems (all ps < .05). Those with co-occurring problems had a higher score on illusion of control beliefs than those with alcohol problems only. For luck/perseverance gambling beliefs, those with co-occurring problems had higher levels than other groups on these beliefs. The group with alcohol problems and significantly poorer mental health outcomes than those without alcohol or gambling problems. Individuals with gambling problems or alcohol problems only had significantly poorer self-rated overall physical health (p < .01). Differences were found between groups (alcohol, gambling, alcohol + gambling and neither) on self-rated energy and fatigue as well as pain (ps < .05). Gambling and alcohol problems may relate to emotional and health problems, and personality and belief systems may be related to the co-occurrence of gambling and alcohol problems.

BackgroundThe recognition of problem gambling as a public health issue has increased as the availability of gambling expands. Research has found that some formats of gambling are more closely linked to problem gambling than others. Conflicting evidence, however, has emerged, suggesting that the most important consideration is involvement (i.e., number of gambling formats an individual participates in). This debate has important implications for the regulation of gambling formats and for the allocation of problem gambling prevention and treatment services.MethodAnalyses utilized the Baseline General Population Survey (BGPS) and the Baseline Online Panel Survey (BOPS) of Massachusettscollected in 2013–2014. The BGPS contains a representative sample of 9523 Massachusetts adults and the BOPS contains a sample of 5046 Massachusetts adults. All participants were administered the same comprehensive survey of their past year gambling behavior and problem gambling symptomology. Only those who gambled regularly in the past 12 months (n = 5852) were included. The Problem and Pathological Gambling Measure was used to classify gambling behavior. Within the sample, there were 446 problem gamblers. We assessed: 1) whether some gambling formats are more related to problem gambling; 2) whether problem gambling is positively related to high involvement in gambling; 3) the relationship between involvement in gambling and intensity of gambling; and 4) whether gambling formats mediate the relationship between gambling involvement and problem gambling.ResultsGroups of monthly gamblers participating in casino gambling, bingo, and sports betting contained a higher proportion of problem gamblers. High gambling involvement was also positively associated with problem gambling; however, a large minority of gamblers experienced problems when engaging in only one or two forms of gambling. Gambling involvement was also positively associated with intensity of gambling. Therefore, intensity of gambling may be partly driving the relationship between involvement and problem gambling. Specific gambling formats mediated the relationship between involvement and problem gambling.ConclusionsThe gambling format an individual participates in is connected to whether an individual is likely to experience problem gambling. We also found that the level of involvement (and its relationship to intensity) may affect the likelihood that an individual will experience problematic gambling behavior. Ultimately, the type of gambling format an individual partakes in does mediate the relationship between problem gambling and involvement. In Massachusetts, participating in casino gambling was more closely associated with problem gambling than other formats across all levels of involvement.

Most problem gambling (PG) assessment instruments classify individuals with subthreshold levels of problem gambling symptomatology as ‘at-risk’, implying a future risk of developing more serious problems. However, this convention lacks empirical support. The present study aimed to develop an empirically supported revision of the Problem and Pathological Gambling Measure (PPGM) that (1) better assesses the risk of future gambling-related harm (GRH) and PG as well as (2) better predicts cases in which PG persists. Data from the Alberta Gambling Research Institute’s National Project Baseline and Follow-up Online Panel Surveys (n = 4676) were used to identify predictors of future GRH and PG. Five variables maximized prediction power: PPGM total score, problem perception, rated importance of gambling as a leisure activity, largest single day gambling loss, and breadth of monthly gambling involvement. A 16-point scale was produced based on the relative risk of developing GRH and PG and Receiver Operating Characteristic (ROC) analyses found that scores of 1, 4, and 8 best captured a gradient of risk for future GRH or PG. Regarding chronicity, a total score of 7 and higher was found to be most parsimoniously predictive of chronic PG. The revised instrument was renamed the Problem Gambling Measure (PGM).

Pathological gambling and mood disorders: Clinical associations and treatment implications

We compared offspring of problem gamblers (n = 42) to offspring of parents without gambling problems (n = 100) to see (1) whether the two groups differed with respect to depressive feelings and conduct/antisociality problems and (2) whether ineffective parenting or the offspring's own gambling problems played a mediating role in this context. Participants were drawn from a relatively large community-based study (N = 1,872). Parents rated their own gambling and other mental health problems when their children were in mid-adolescence. The children's self-reports on depressive feelings and conduct/antisociality problems were assessed at two points in time: by mid-adolescence and again by early adulthood. Results showed that children of parents with gambling problems reported more depressive feelings and more conduct problems by mid-adolescence than children of parents without gambling problems. Children of problem gamblers also experienced an increase in their depressive symptoms from mid-adolescence to early adulthood. Importantly, ineffective parenting, but not children's gambling problems, mediated almost all the links between parental problem gambling and children's adjustment problems. These results add to a very small data base showing that children of problem gamblers are at risk for a variety of adjustment problems.

The sulphated cholecystokinin (CCK) octapeptide (CCK-8S), the CCK tetrapeptide (CCK-4), neuropeptide Y (NPY) and gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) were determined in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) obtained from 11 pathological male gamblers and 11 healthy male controls. Compared with healthy controls, pathological male gamblers displayed higher concentrations of CCK-8S, CCK-4 and GABA (but not NPY). A gradient with decreasing concentrations from the first to the third 6-ml CSF fraction was found for CCK-8S, CCK-4 and NPY, but only in pathological gamblers. Disrupted gradients were found for GABA and for NPY in healthy controls. Given that CCK is a modulator of dopamine in the reward process, the increase in CCK-8S and CCK-4 is not unexpected. The high level of GABA in pathological gamblers is in conformity with a compensatory inhibitory action on noradrenergic neurons. The CSF gradient of CCK-8S and CCK-4 in pathological male gamblers (but not healthy controls) might indicate a difference in diurnal variation. The results obtained are in line with an altered CCK and GABA function in pathological gambling.

Prevalence rates of at risk, problematic and pathological gambling in Switzerland

Gambling pathology has been associated with elevated levels of distress, depression and impulsivity. The present investigation assessed whether these behavioral features would be evident among problem gamblers as they are among pathological gamblers. As well, given that gambling has been associated with increased life stress, as an objective index of ongoing distress, elevations of morning cortisol levels were assessed in problem and pathological gamblers relative to recreational gamblers, and their relations to depressive symptoms and impulsivity were assessed. Recreational, problem, and pathological gamblers (N = 140) completed the Beck Depression Inventory and the Barratt Impulsiveness Scale-11, and provided saliva samples at awakening, 30 min, 3.5 h, and 5.5 h afterward. Consistent with the view that problem and pathological gambling are associated with elevated life stressors, the rise of morning cortisol from awakening to 30 min following awakening was greater than in recreational gamblers. Heightened impulsivity was evident among both problem and pathological gamblers, whereas depressive symptoms were only evident among pathological gamblers. In neither instance were these psychological indices related to the morning cortisol rise. Indeed, increased depressive symptoms were not evident among problem gamblers, despite the fact that elevated morning cortisol levels were evident. The elevated morning cortisol rise may be secondary to gambling problems or distress related to gambling problems. Furthermore, the sustained morning cortisol elevations may be indicative of allostatic overload, and could potentially be a harbinger for potential health risks among problematic gamblers.

Although most people gamble occasionally for fun and pleasure, gambling brings with it inherent risks of personal and social harm. According to the most recent British Gambling Prevalence Survey there are ~350,000 problem gamblers in the UK which equates to just under 1% of the adult population (Wardle et al., 2011). Problem and pathological gambling can negatively affect significant areas of a person's life, including their physical and mental health, employment, finances, and interpersonal relationships (e.g., family members, financial dependents) (Griffiths, 2004). Furthermore, there are significant co-morbidities with problem gambling, including depression, alcoholism, and obsessive-compulsive behaviors (Petry et al., 2005; Desai and Potenza, 2008). These co-morbidities may exacerbate, or be exacerbated by, problem and pathological gambling. The availability of opportunities to gamble and the incidence of problem gambling within a community are also known to be linked (e.g., Pearce et al., 2008). Anyone coming into the gambling studies field from a psychological perspective would probably conclude from reading the literature that problem and pathological gambling is associated with particular game types. More specifically, there appears to be a line of thinking in the gambling studies field that casino-type games (and particularly slot machines) are more likely to be associated with problem gambling than lottery-type games (Griffiths, 1994; Meyer et al., 2009). In this opinion paper it is argued that when it comes to problem gambling, game-type is irrelevant and that the most important factors along with individual susceptibility and risk factors of the individual gambler (which are not discussed here and beyond this paper's remit), are the structural characteristics relating to the speed and frequency of the game (and more specifically event frequency, bet frequency, event duration, and payout interval) rather than the type of game. It is also argued that researchers in the gambling studies field need to think about game parameters rather than game type when it comes to any association with problem and pathological gambling.

Gambling disorder and gaming disorder are increasingly recognized as significant contributors to affective disorders, highlighting the need to better understand their diagnostic frameworks. The aim of this study was to compare "core" and "peripheral" diagnostic criteria for gaming disorder and evaluate these distinctions within gambling disorder for the first time. A nationally representative sample of 1074 British adults completed online assessments of gambling and gaming disorders per the World Health Organization's (WHO) eleventh revision of the International Classification of Diseases (ICD-11). Condition Inferential Tree analyses identified which criteria best predicted high-risk behavior. Prevalence was low for gambling disorder (0.49%) and gaming disorder (0.30%), though high-risk cases were more frequent (2.47% and 2.27%, respectively). In gambling disorder, the experience of significant distress/impairment (criterion 4), increased priority (criterion 2), and continuation/escalation (criterion 3) emerged as core criteria while impaired control (criterion 1) was peripheral. For gaming disorder, the experience of significant distress/impairment (criterion 4), continuation/escalation (criterion 3), and impaired control (criterion 1) were core and increased priority (criterion 2) peripheral. It is feasible to distinguish core from peripheral criteria in both disorders, but doing so requires a careful, severity-sensitive approach. The findings imply that distinguishing core from peripheral diagnostic criteria in gambling and gaming disorders provides a useful severity-sensitive framework that clarifies their links with affective disorders. Specifically, this distinction helps clinicians target the symptoms most likely to worsen mood dysregulation and guides research into shared mechanisms, improving prevention and treatment for comorbid affective and behavioral disorders.

Although much recent research has focused on the gambling practices and psychosocial functioning of pathological gamblers, few investigations have examined the characteristics of professional gamblers. The current project sought to address this gap in the literature by conducting a quantitative comparison of professional and pathological gamblers. Pathological gamblers were recruited and balanced with professional gamblers on demographic variables and preferred gambling activity. A total of 22 professional gamblers and 13 pathological gamblers completed an extensive self-report battery including instruments assessing demographics, gambling behaviors and problems, other psychiatric disorders, current psychosocial functioning, recent stressful events, personality characteristics, and intelligence. Pathological and professional gamblers reported similar rates of gambling frequency and intensity and types of games played. Pathological gamblers endorsed poor psychosocial functioning, whereas professional gamblers reported a rate of psychiatric distress within a normative range. Pathological gamblers also reported lower gambling self-efficacy, greater impulsivity, and more past-year DSM-IV Axis I disorders than professional gamblers. The results of the present study shed light on the unique circumstances of professional gamblers, as well as underscore important differences between such individuals and pathological gamblers that could prove fruitful in future research and intervention and prevention efforts.