We know the problem-gambler gets into trouble. But how does his (it’s usually a man) behavior affect everyone around him? Research is beginning to show that pathological gambling contributes to chaos and dysfunction in families, affecting spouses and partners, kids, parents, siblings, employers, and co-workers.

Pathological Gambling Runs in Families
10% of family members of a problem-gambler also have gambling problems themselves. These relatives also had an increased rate of:

• alcoholism and drug use
• depression
• anxiety
• antisocial personality

So some of the problems in these families come from the mental illness and addiction that they suffer from.

Problem Gamblers Had Poor Childhoods
One study showed that 40% of gamblers reported childhoods of neglect. Only 17-30% had really good childhoods. Their families also had:

• lower commitment to the family
• less support
• fewer intellectual activities
• higher expressed anger

So How Does the Problem-Gambler Affect His Family?

The Spouse or Partner
Gamblers have a higher divorce rate: problem gamblers at 40% and pathological gamblers at 54%. Not surprisingly, financial problems (huge debts, second mortgages, and illegal loans) and psychological stress (anger, resentment, depression, isolation, and loss of trust) contribute to the higher divorce rate. Spouses had more physical problems, like severe headaches and stomach-aches. Sex was markedly decreased. 86% of spouses thought about leaving. 48% considered having an affair, while 23% did so.

Physical abuse often occurs. Some horrendous statistics: a woman whose partner has problem-gambling is 10 times more likely to be abused. If the partner has a gambling problem and drinks, abuse is 50 times more likely. The National Gambling Impact Study reports that when a casino opens in a community, domestic violence often goes up. When casinos opened in Mississippi, domestic violence shelters had a 100% - 300% increase in business.

The Kids
Kids of problem gamblers were more likely to:

• smoke
• have alcohol and drug use
• have educational difficulties
• be depressed and show suicidal behavior (68%)
• report they come from a broken home
• be gamblers themselves (4 times higher rate)
• be abused by their gambling parent
• feel angry all the time (44%)

Overall, some pretty horrible effects.

If you gamble, gamble responsibly.
If you have a problem gambling, visit Gamblers Anonymous.
If your family member has a problem gambling, visit Gam-Anon.

The original study appeared in the August 2007 issue of CNS Spectrum. Thanks to uncleboatshoes for the photo from Flickr.

Heart attack?  Gun shot wound?  Appendicitis?  You’ll probably hurry on down to your local emergency room.  But how about for gambling?

A recent study out of Canada looked at visits by problem gamblers (PG) to an emergency room near Quebec’s largest casino.  Interesting stats…

Who came to the ER?  3 times as many men came in as women for PG.

How many visits for gambling problems compared to other problems?  About 1 out of each 100 visits were for gambling problems, and this percentage is increasing.

Why did gamblers come in?  The 3 most common reasons were:

• depression
• suicidal thoughts
• attempted suicide

Besides their gambling problem, what other diagnoses were these gamblers given?

• depression
• drug or alcohol problems
• problems adjusting to a stress

If you’re getting in over your head, visit Gamblers Anonymous.

The original study appeared in the August 2007 issue of the Canadian Journal of Psychiatry.

Today is the last post in our 3-part series on pathological gambling (PG).  (Here are Post #1 and #2).  Today we’ll look at Medication Treatment for PG.

3 classes of medication have been found to help PG.

1. Opioid Antagonists
   These medications, like Naltrexone, work the same way that they do with heroin addiction.  The medication blocks dopamine, which gives gamblers the “high” from gambling excitement, as well as cravings.  No high = less reason to gamble.
2. Antidepressants

(more…)