Session Title

Session 1-3-A: Compounding Issues in Problem Gambling

Presentation Type

Paper Presentation

Location

Park MGM, Las Vegas, NV

Start Date

23-5-2023 1:45 PM

End Date

23-5-2023 3:15 PM

Disciplines

Behavior and Behavior Mechanisms | Clinical Psychology | Counseling Psychology | Health Psychology

Abstract

Abstract:

Gambling disorder is well known as a hidden addiction and therefore is subjected to a prolonged time in seeking treatment. During the development of addiction, the psychosocial functioning is more openly or covertly disrupted, and gambling addicts manifest various problems and risky behaviors. At the same time, motivational mechanism for seeking professional help are complex and influenced by different individual circumstances.

This study was conducted with N=315 patients in the Daily Clinic for Gambling Addiction. The psychosocial functioning of the patients is assessed at the beginning of the treatment, while a specific aim of this paper is to explore potential differences in their cognitive, emotional, relational, financial and occupational circumstances in relation to the time between the first symptoms of gambling disorder and the time they entered treatment at the Clinic.

The results show the strongest effects on relational and financial variables, as well as on risky and criminal behaviors. Patients who had gambling problems longer before seeking help had more financial and legal problems. For the cognitive and emotional variables, the effects between patients were not significant because they all sought treatment with a fairly complex and severe clinical picture.

Implication statements:

There is no doubt that time that elapses between the development of gambling problems and seeking treatment could have a potential for causing more adverse psychosocial consequences, but it was not clear which areas are most affected. This study highlights how the duration of gambling disorder affects personal and family functioning dominantly through financial problems and risky/delinquent behavior.

Keywords

gambling, gambling addiction, psychosocial functioning, treatment

Author Bios

Neven Ricijas PhD is a full professor at the University of Zagreb (Faculty of Education and Rehabilitation Sciences, Department of Behavioral Disorders) with expertise in gambling studies, behavioral addictions and criminology. His scientific projects are aimed at understanding different correlates and processes in the development of gambling disorder and developing evidence-based preventive and treatment interventions.

Web: Neven Ricijaš - Faculty of Education and Rehabilitation Sciences University of Zagreb (unizg.hr)

Dora Dodig Hundrić, PhD is an assistant professor at the University of Zagreb (Faculty of Education and Rehabilitation Sciences, Department of Behavioral Disorders) with expertise in gambling studies, behavioral addictions and social pedagogy. Her scientific projects are related to exploring characteristics of gambling addicts and the development of evidence-based preventive and treatment interventions.

Web: Dora Dodig Hundrić - Faculty of Education and Rehabilitation Sciences University of Zagreb (unizg.hr)

Sabina Mandic, MA is a research and teaching assistant at the University of Zagreb (Faculty of Education and Rehabilitation Sciences, Department of Behavioral Disorders) with expertise in behavioral addictions. Her specific scientific interest, and doctoral thesis, are correlates and developmental processes of internet addiction among adolescents.

Web: Sabina Mandić - Faculty of Education and Rehabilitation Sciences University of Zagreb (unizg.hr)

Sanja Radic Bursac, MA is a professional associate in science and higher education at the University of Zagreb (Faculty of Education and Rehabilitation Sciences, Teaching and Clinical Centre). Her main expertise is adolescent and family counseling for different behavioral problems and risk behaviors. She is a doctoral student in the prevention science preparing her doctoral thesis in the field of gambling related problems and significant others.

Web: Center for Rehabilitation - ERF - University of Zagreb (unizg.hr)

Davor Bodor, PhD is a head of the Daily Hospital for Gambling Addiction within the University Hospital St. John in Zagreb. He did his doctoral thesis in the field of gambling addiction and his main professional interests are the development multimodal and comprehensive treatment opportunities for gambling addicts.

Web: Dnevna bolnica za ovisnost o kockanju (KOCKA) - Klinika za psihijatriju Sveti Ivan (pbsvi.hr)

Funding Sources

No funding for this study (professional scientific collaboration between authors).

Competing Interests

No conflict of interest for this study (professional scientific collaboration between authors).

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May 23rd, 1:45 PM May 23rd, 3:15 PM

Psychosocial characteristics of gambling addicts – Does it matter when they start their treatment?

Park MGM, Las Vegas, NV

Abstract:

Gambling disorder is well known as a hidden addiction and therefore is subjected to a prolonged time in seeking treatment. During the development of addiction, the psychosocial functioning is more openly or covertly disrupted, and gambling addicts manifest various problems and risky behaviors. At the same time, motivational mechanism for seeking professional help are complex and influenced by different individual circumstances.

This study was conducted with N=315 patients in the Daily Clinic for Gambling Addiction. The psychosocial functioning of the patients is assessed at the beginning of the treatment, while a specific aim of this paper is to explore potential differences in their cognitive, emotional, relational, financial and occupational circumstances in relation to the time between the first symptoms of gambling disorder and the time they entered treatment at the Clinic.

The results show the strongest effects on relational and financial variables, as well as on risky and criminal behaviors. Patients who had gambling problems longer before seeking help had more financial and legal problems. For the cognitive and emotional variables, the effects between patients were not significant because they all sought treatment with a fairly complex and severe clinical picture.

Implication statements:

There is no doubt that time that elapses between the development of gambling problems and seeking treatment could have a potential for causing more adverse psychosocial consequences, but it was not clear which areas are most affected. This study highlights how the duration of gambling disorder affects personal and family functioning dominantly through financial problems and risky/delinquent behavior.