Gambling Disorder

           Gambling disorder is defined as persistent and progressive addiction that often results in adverse physical, psychological, and socials consequences. Most individuals become addicted and get almost similar effects as they get from alcohol addiction. Besides, it can result in depression, migraine intestinal disorders, distress, among other anxiety associated problems (Hartney, 2019). Globally, gambling disorder has been on the rise over the last few years, with the number of people suffering from it in the United States, reaching 5.77 million as of 2012 (Newman& Legg, 2018). This paper will discuss the diagnostic criteria, risk factors, warning signs, and the treatment options available for the condition.

Diagnostic Criteria

           According to the DSM-5 criteria, an individual must experience or show at least four of the following signs during the past 12 months:

• The urge to gamble with an amount of money that is increasing for them to be excited
• Persistent failure on an attempt to control, stop or decrease gambling
• Gambling once more after losing money
• Having frequent thoughts of gambling and making plans for it
• Gambling when depressed
• Being dishonest to hide gambling acts
• Having problems at work or relationships because of gambling
• Relying on other people to provide cash to use in gambling
• Irritability or restlessness while trying to quit gambling

 

 

 

Risk factors for the Condition

Gambling can result in a wide range of challenges, including the addiction though no one can easily predict it. The majority of the individual who develops gambling disorder can be considered as dependable and responsible people; however, various issues can result in a shift in individual behavior. These are depression or anxiety job-related, stress retirement, loneliness,   and other factors such as friends, and other addictions (Newman& Legg, 2018). Additionally, various studies have indicated that individuals with one addiction are more likely to develop another.

Furthermore, individuals with gambling addiction have also been associated with alcohol and drug use. The utilization of medication has also been associated with greater risk of developing a gambling disorder (Hartney, 2019). Although secondary addiction can come in to decrease gambling addiction, some individuals who gamble have no history of any other addiction, and thus, some of the risk factors that increase their susceptibility include anxiety conditions, and depression or personality disorders (Wang, 2019). Others are an addiction to drugs and alcohol, sex which is likely to affect more men than women and the use of medications such as dopamine agonist and antipsychotics

Warning Signs

The warning signs for gambling disorder may include financial challenges such as lack of food in the house, borrowing or requesting loans to gamble, becoming secretive on payslips, regularly falling short of money, missing of household items or valuables and presence of unpaid bills or disconnection notices (Zhao et al., 2018). It can also be manifested in the mood and behavior, for example, withdrawal from the family members, abnormal low performance at work, having to control, and manipulative behavior. Others include having fear and agitated or angry for no reason, and changes in personality (eating, sleeping, and sexual relationship patterns) (Zhao et al., 2018). Additionally, the person might also spend more time gambling, not being honest with unexplained absenteeism, taking a lot of days off and sick days, and spending an unusual amount of time to complete a task.

Treatments

Therapy

           It involves help from mental health professionals who help an individual to identify the thought process that has led them to the development of the condition. The nature of the gamblers is that they have hope to win a more substantial amount of money someday; this makes them continue with the behavior, which then becomes a problem and interferes with their daily activities. Through therapies which could be cognitive-behavioral (CBT) or behavioral, they will be able to reduce the urge to gamble through systematic exposure to behavior. Besides, CBT helps in changing how individuals think and feel concerning gambling.

Medications

           Medications such as antidepressants and mood stabilizers work to reduce the symptoms and medical conditions that are likely to come in as a result of gambling addictions. Some of the antidepressants can reduce the urge to gamble. Also, narcotic antagonists, which are used in the treatment of drug addictions, may help those with compulsive gambling disorders. Therefore, medication can play a significant role together with other strategies to manage the disease.

Self-help groups

           This can be an excellent strategy to bring an individual with similar problems to speak with each other. This will promote a better understanding and also brings a sense of belonging to the gamblers. Through this, they can work together with a common goal of addressing the situation. This will also be involved in group strategies have discussions about their challenges, provide interventions that they feel it works for them as well as reaching out to others (Wang, 2019). This will help in the reduction of extreme cases that reach levels of depression and also withdrawal from family and friends.

Conclusion

           Conclusively, gambling disorders have been on the rise over the years, which has made it a health concern. Some of the risk factors for the condition include depression and the presence of other addictions from drugs and alcohol. However, it has warning signs which can easily be noticed, such as taking too many loans to facilitate gambling behavior. The treatment options available include therapies, the use of medication, and making use of self-help groups.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

References

Wang, P. (2019). What Is Gambling Disorder? Retrieved 15 October 2019, from https://www.psychiatry.org/patients-families/gambling-disorder/what-is-gambling-disorder

Hartney, E. (2019). How Gambling Disorder Is Defined According to Psychiatrists Verywell Mind. Retrieved 15 October 2019, from https://www.verywellmind.com/what-is-gambling-disorder-22015

Newman, T., & Timothy J. Legg, C. (2018). Gambling addiction: Symptoms, triggers, and treatment. Medical News Today. Retrieved 15 October 2019, from https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/15929.php

Zhao, Y., Marchica, L., Derevensky, J. L., & Ivoska, W. (2018). Mobile Gambling Among Youth: A Warning Sign for Problem Gambling?. Journal of Gambling Issues, (38).