Profile of compulsive gamblers in treatment: Update and comparisons

Abstract

Previous empirical studies of pathological gamblers have reported on members of self-help groups or on inpatient populations of Veterans Administration Hospitals (VA). The current study profiles demographic, gambling, and psychosocial characteristics for 186 pathological gamblers (172 male, 14 female) admitted for inpatient treatment at Taylor Manor Hospital, a private psychiatric hospital. Inpatient gamblers in treatment are relatively young, mostly employed, with significant debts and legal problems, overrepresented by Catholics and Jews, underrepresented by females and racial minority groups, and addicted to many forms of gambling. Psychosocial characteristics include a high incidence of substance abuse in the gamblers themselves as well as high rates of parental alcoholism and pathological gambling. Some tentative findings regarding female pathological gamblers are discussed along with comparisons of this inpatient group with pathological gamblers found in the VA system and selfhelp programs.