Mental health of non-gamblers versus "normal" gamblers among American Indian veterans: a community survey.

Full Abstract

GOAL:
This analysis was undertaken to assess the demographic and mental health characteristics of "normal" or non-problem gamblers versus non-gamblers in a representative community sample.

SAMPLE STUDY:
participants consisted of 557 North Central American Indian veterans.

DATA COLLECTION:
included a demographic and trauma questionnaire, a computer-based Diagnostic Interview Schedule for DSM-III-R, and a treatment history algorithm.

FINDINGS:
Univariate analyses revealed that gamblers had greater social competence (i.e., higher education, living with a spouse) and higher lifetime psychiatric morbidity. Binary regression analysis revealed that, compared to non-gamblers, gamblers were older, more highly educated, and more apt to be married. More gamblers showed evidence for lifetime risk-taking as evidenced by Antisocial Personality Disorder and Tobacco Dependence.

CONCLUSIONS:
Social achievement and disposable income function as prerequisites for "normal" gambling in this population, although "externalizing" or "risk-taking" disorders also serve as independent contributors to at least some gambling. The increased rate of "internalizing" or emotional disorders are only indirectly related to gambling, perhaps through increasing age or through the "externalizing" disorders.

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Author information

Author/s: Westermeyer, Joseph (J); Canive, Jose (J); Thuras, Paul (P); Thompson, James (J); Kim, Suk W (SW); Crosby, Ross D (RD); Garrard, Judith (J);

Affiliation: Minneapolis VAMC, Minneapolis, MN, USA. weste010@umn.edu

Journal and publication information

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

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: 2008-Jun; vol 24 (issue 2) : pp 193-205

Dates: Created 2008/03/10; Completed 2008/04/07;

PMID: 18204964, status: MEDLINE (last retrieval date: 11/6/2008)

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MeSH headings (categories)

This article was linked to the MESH Headings shown below.

Aged
Alcoholism - epidemiology
Anxiety - epidemiology
Comorbidity
Depression - epidemiology
Female
Gambling - psychology
Humans
Impulse Control Disorders - epidemiology
Indians, North American - statistics & numerical data

Indians, North American - statistics & numerical data
Male
Mental Disorders - epidemiology
Mental Health
Middle Aged
Questionnaires
Risk-Taking
Tobacco Use Disorder - epidemiology
United States
Veterans - statistics & numerical data

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