Gambling involves wagering something of value on an event with a chance of winning a prize. The prize could be money, goods, services, or anything else of value. It is a risky activity, and people typically gamble for fun, with money they can afford to lose. However, gambling can become an addiction and lead to financial ruin. It can also cause health problems and affect relationships with family and friends. Fortunately, there are treatments for gambling disorder.
A person can gamble in a casino, on the Internet, or in other places. Some types of gambling include lotteries, horse racing, bingo, scratchcards, dead pool, and Mahjong. Some religions forbid gambling, including the Jehovah’s Witnesses and The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. However, most jurisdictions have legalized gambling in some form. In addition, many private companies provide gambling services.
Although the majority of Americans do not have a problem with gambling, for about two million people the habit interferes with daily life. They may lie to family and friends about their gambling, hide evidence of their gambling, or spend more time and money than they can afford. They often feel depressed, anxious, or guilty when they lose. Some people have even ruined their lives and careers because of gambling.
The American Psychiatric Association’s Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM) recognizes pathological gambling as an addictive behavior, along with substance use disorders. The reclassification was made to increase credibility of the disorder and encourage its treatment, screening, and awareness. It also reflects the high comorbidity of gambling disorder with other disorders, such as substance use and mood disorders.
Despite the reclassification, there is still much controversy over the definition of gambling disorder and how to treat it. It is important to establish agreed-on nomenclature for gambling disorders so that researchers, psychiatrists, and other treatment providers can communicate effectively with each other.
There are a number of psychological treatments for pathological gambling, and they vary in their effectiveness. Some have been based on integrated approaches, and others have focused on specific aspects of the etiology of gambling disorders. Nevertheless, they all aim to improve a patient’s ability to control their gambling behaviors.
Longitudinal studies are the best way to test the effectiveness of a treatment, but they are difficult to conduct. There are several logistical challenges, including the need for large sample sizes; the difficulty of maintaining research team continuity over a long period; and adjusting for aging and period effects. In addition, longitudinal data are prone to self-report bias and confounding variables.
Psychotherapy is one of the most common and effective treatments for gambling disorder. There are a variety of techniques, but all involve talking about the problem with a trained mental health professional. Some therapies focus on identifying unhealthy thoughts, emotions, and behaviors; helping patients develop new skills; and addressing any underlying mental health conditions that might be contributing to the gambling disorder. Some forms of psychotherapy include: