Pre/early adolescent onset of gambling and psychosocial problems in treatment-seeking pathological gamblers.

Full Abstract

This study examined the association between pre- or early-adolescent onset of gambling and severity of gambling and psychosocial problems in treatment-seeking adult pathological gamblers. A total of 236 pathological gamblers entering outpatient treatment completed the South Oaks Gambling Screen (SOGS) and the Addiction Severity Index (ASI). Using a quartile split procedure, gamblers who began gambling during their pre- or early-adolescent years (mean age of 10.5 years; 1st quartile) were compared to gamblers who began gambling later in life (mean age of 23.0 years; 2nd to 4th quartiles). Compared to later onset gamblers, pre/early adolescent onset gamblers reported increased severity of psychiatric, family/social, and substance abuse problems on the ASI. They were more likely to report cognitive problems (trouble understanding, concentrating, or remembering), suicidal ideation, and a history of inpatient psychiatric treatment, and were less likely to be satisfied with their current living situation. Pre/early adolescent onset gamblers also reported earlier age of initiation of drinking, and were more likely to have received treatment for an alcohol use disorder, and to have used cannabis and cocaine in their lifetimes. Taken together, these data suggest that pre/early adolescent-onset of gambling may be a risk factor for later-life psychiatric, family/social, and substance abuse problems in treatment-seeking pathological gamblers.

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Author information

Author/s: Burge, Alesia N (AN); Pietrzak, Robert H (RH); Petry, Nancy M (NM);

Affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, University of Connecticut Health Center, 263 Farmington Avenue, Farmington, CT 06030-3944, USA. petry(-atsign-)psychiatry.uchc.edu

Grants: P50-AA03510 (Agency:NIAAA NIH HHS) ; P50-DA09241 (Agency:NIDA NIH HHS) ; R01-DA13444 (Agency:NIDA NIH HHS) ; R01-DA14618 (Agency:NIDA NIH HHS) ; R01-MH60417 (Agency:NIMH NIH HHS) ; R01-MH60417-SUPP (Agency:NIMH NIH HHS) ; R29-DA12056 (Agency:NIDA NIH HHS)

Journal and publication information

Publication Type: Comparative Study; Journal Article; Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural; Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

Journal: Journal of gambling studies / co-sponsored by the National Council on Problem Gambling and Institute for the Study of Gambling and Commercial Gaming (J Gambl Stud), published in United States. (Language: eng)

Reference: 2006-; vol 22 (issue 3) : pp 263-74

Dates: Created 2006/09/29; Completed 2007/11/01; Revised 2007/12/03;

PMID: 16816990, status: MEDLINE (last retrieval date: 12/26/2008)

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MeSH headings (categories)

This article was linked to the MESH Headings shown below.

Adolescent
Adolescent Behavior - psychology
Adult
Age Factors
Age of Onset
Behavior, Addictive - psychology; therapy
Connecticut
Female
Gambling - psychology

Gambling - psychology
Humans
Male
Patient Acceptance of Health Care
Psychiatric Status Rating Scales
Questionnaires
Severity of Illness Index
Socioeconomic Factors
Substance-Related Disorders - psychology; therapy

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