Symptom Clusters in Individuals Seeking Treatment for Gambling Disorder

Session Title

Poster Session

Presenters

Blaine StigletsFollow

Presentation Type

Poster Presentation

Location

Park MGM, Las Vegas, NV

Start Date

24-5-2023 10:30 AM

End Date

24-5-2023 11:15 AM

Disciplines

Clinical Psychology

Abstract

The fifth edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual for Mental Disorders (DSM-5) presents the criteria for Gambling Disorder (GD) as a unidimensional construct where each additional symptom corresponds to increased severity. Research has found that many individuals experience addiction symptoms in specific symptom clusters, with membership to one profile of symptoms or other better-representing disorder severity than raw symptom counts. This study sought to explore if similar patterns of symptom clusters exist among adults seeking treatment for gambling harms. The sample included 487 adults (M_age= 44.95) who completed the DSM-5 criteria for GD at intake. Latent class analysis was conducted using the nine criteria for GD. Four distinct classes were found to best fit the data. Four percent of the sample represented an “asymptomatic” class who denied gambling harms and may represent individuals who were brought into treatment by a concerned significant other. Eight percent represented an “at-risk” class that includes individuals experiencing gambling harms but not meeting criteria for GD. Forty-five percent represented a “high-risk” class who met all diagnostic criteria except desire to cut back and preoccupation with gambling. Forty-three percent represented a “severe” class who exhibited the most severe symptomology and endorsed all nine diagnostic criteria.

Keywords

Diagnosis, treatment, classification, latent class analysis, etiology

Author Bios

Blaine E. Stiglets, BS is a doctoral student in the Clinical Psychology doctoral program at East Tennessee State University and a graduate assistant working at the Gambling Clinic – East. His research interests include addictive and gambling behaviors, psychopathology, and substance abuse.

Meredith K. Ginley, PhD s an Assistant Professor in the Department of Psychology at East Tennessee State University and a co-investigator at The Institute for Gambling Education and Research. Her research focuses on efforts to improve outcomes and retention in treatment for substance use disorders and behavioral addictions.

Rory A. Pfund, PhD is a Research Assistant Professor of Psychology and the Clinic and Research Director of The Institute of Gambling Education and Research at the University of Memphis. Dr. Pfund’s research focuses on understanding the effects of psychological treatments for gambling disorder. He is currently the co-investigator on a grant from the Tennessee Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services to develop a web-based portal to facilitate the initiation of gambling disorder treatment.

James P. Whelan, PhD is a University of Memphis Professor of Psychology and Director of The Institute for Gambling Education and Research. He leads the Institute’s initiative to develop a research center response for all living in the U.S. state of Tennessee – a project funded by Tennessee’s Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services. His research spans prevention, assessment, and treatment of gambling disorder.

Funding Sources

This project was funded by the Tennessee Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services. The funding source had no involvement in any aspects of the research, including the decision to submit the abstract.

Competing Interests

This project was funded by the Tennessee Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services. The funding source had no involvement in any aspects of the research, including the decision to submit the abstract. Authors declare no competing interests.