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Tests and diagnosis
By Mayo Clinic staffAbout 2 million Americans are classified as compulsive gamblers — that is, they meet the criteria set forth in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM), published by the American Psychiatric Association. Another 4 million to 6 million adults are considered "problem gamblers." They meet some, but not all, of the criteria for compulsive gambling.
DSM criteria for the diagnosis of compulsive gambling require that at least five of the following signs and symptoms must be present:
- Being preoccupied with gambling, such as reliving past gambling experiences or planning ways to get gambling money
- Needing to gamble with increasing amounts of money to become excited
- Trying to cut back on gambling, without success
- Getting restless or irritable when attempting to cut down on gambling
- Gambling as a way to escape problems or to relieve feelings of helplessness or sadness
- Chasing losses, or trying to gamble back lost money
- Lying to family members, therapists or others to hide the extent of gambling
- Committing fraud, theft or other illegal acts for the sake of gambling
- Jeopardizing or losing an important relationship, job, or educational or career opportunity because of gambling
- Turning to others for money when the financial situation becomes desperate
Because excessive gambling can sometimes be a sign of bipolar disorder, mental health providers are careful to rule out other reasons for this behavior.
- Pathologic gambling. In: Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders DSM-IV-TR. 4th ed.: American Psychiatric Association;2000. http://www.psychiatryonline.com. Accessed Dec. 1, 2008.
- Questions and answers. Gamblers Anonymous. http://www.gamblersanonymous.org/qna.html. Accessed Dec. 1, 2008.
- Unwin BK, et al. Pathologic gambling. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed Dec. 1, 2008.
- About problem gaming: FAQ. National Council on Problem Gaming. http://www.ncpgambling.org/about_problem/about_problem_faq.asp. Accessed Dec 1, 2008.
- Dodd ML, et al. Pathological gambling caused by drugs used to treat Parkinson disease. Archives of Neurology. 2005;62:1377.
- Unwin BK, et al. Pathologic gambling. American Family Physician. 2006;61(3):741.
- Compulsive gambling. Minnesota Department of Human Services. http://www.dhs.state.mn.us/main/idcplg?IdcService=GET_DYNAMIC_CONVERSION&RevisionSelectionMethod=LatestReleased&dDocName=id_008574. Accessed Dec.1, 2008.
- Grant JE. Gender differences in pathological gamblers seeking medication treatment. Comprehensive Psychiatry. 2002;43:56.
- Ibanez A, et al. Genetics of pathological gambling. Journal of Gambling Studies. 2003;19:11.
- Regard M, et al. Brain damage and addictive behavior: A neuropsychological and electroencephalogram investigation with pathologic gamblers. Cognitive and Behavioral Neurology. 2003;16:47.
- Kringelbach ML, et al. The functional neuroanatomy of the human orbitofrontal cortex: Evidence from neuroimaging and neuropsychology. Progress in Neurobiology. 2004;72:341.
