Compulsive Gambling

Question 1

Compulsive Gambling

Answer 1

A chronic and progressive failure

to resist the impulse to gamble

Question 2

Gambling

Answer 2

• Majority of Americans participate in some form of gambling

- Gambling origins in religious rituals

Question 3

Social Gamblers

Answer 3

1. No self-value is tied to winning or losing
2. Other aspects of life are important and
   rewarding
3. A “big win” is rarely experienced

Question 4

Pathological Gambling

Answer 4

1. 1st introduced as diagnosable mental
disorder in 1980 (DSM-III)
2. Classified as a disorder of impulse
control
3. Definition: a chronic and progressive
failure to resist impulse to gamble
4. Synonymous with compulsive gambling 
5. Intoxicication=winning
•“The Action”
• Stimulation-Euphoria
• Pain and Stress Relieving
• Tranquilizing

Question 5

Withdrawl

Answer 5

-Losing
• Stress & Tension
• Inadequacy & Unimportance
• Loss of Self-Esteem
• Loss of Control

Question 6

Characteristics of Pathological Gamblers

Answer 6

A. Workaholic-like
B. Risk Takers
1. Attracted to stimulating situations
2. Boredom not tolerated

Question 7

Demographics & Incidence

Answer 7

Average onset from gambling to loss of control: 5 years

Question 8

Winning Phase

Answer 8

1. Gambling begins with small bets, usually in adolescence; mostly male
2. Gambler’s luck is replaced by skillful betting
3. Winning leads to more and more excitement
4. Gambler’s play more frequent and for higher stakes
5. Pathological gambler begins to believe he is an exceptional better
6. Big win occurs

Question 9

Losing Phase

Answer 9

1. Begins to gamble alone
2. Amount bet escalates
3. Losing streak develops
4. “Chase”
5. Irrational optimism
6. Legal borrowing
7. Impairment in social & occupational
   functioning
8. Major debt, partial confession & bail out

Question 10

Desperation Phase

Answer 10

1. More bailouts
2. All of losing phase is worse
3. State of panic
4. Psychiatric signs
5. Crash
6. Depression

Question 11

Underregulation- Standards

Answer 11

Failure to set time and access limits

Question 12

Underregulation - Strength

Answer 12

1. Negative affect

2. Unlimited access

Question 13

Underregulation - Reduction of Monitoring

Answer 13

1. Attention is systematically directed to immediate cues
   a. Attention kept away from anything that would facilitate monitoring
2. Disinhibition
3. Transcendence failure

Question 14

Psychological Inertia

Answer 14

Development of automatic behaviors

Question 15

Misregulation - Irrational or Faulty Beliefs

Answer 15

the belief that one can predict future chance events from knowing the outcome of past ones, because future and past outcomes must add up to a definite score

1. Gamblers view chance outcomes as partially controllable
2. Gamblers fallacy - misperception of chance events

Question 16

Spiraling distress

Answer 16

1. Money Problems
2. History of “big win”
3. Chasing
4. Financial ruin

Question 17

Addiction Model

Answer 17

1. Dependence on the “action” of gambling

2. Similarities to dependence on mood altering drugs

Question 18

Tolerance

Answer 18

needs to gamble with increasing amounts of

money

Question 19

Withdrawl

Answer 19

• is restless or irritable when attempting to cut down or stop gambling
• gambles as a way of escaping from problems or a dysphoric mood

Question 20

Larger amounts

Answer 20

After losing money gambling, often

returns another day to get even-”chasing”

Question 21

Impaired control

Answer 21

has repeated unsuccessful efforts to control, cut back or stop gambling

Question 22

Time spent

Answer 22

Is preoccupied with gambling

Question 23

Neglect of activites

Answer 23

has jeopardized or lost a significant relationship, job or career opportunity because of gambling

Question 24

Continued use despite problems

Answer 24

• Lies to family members or others to conceal the extent of gambling
• Has committed illegal acts to finance gambling
• Relies on others to provide money to relieve a desperate financial situation caused by gambling

Question 25

Advantages of the medical disease | model

Answer 25

1. Common signs and symptoms to establish diagnosis 2. Lifts great burden of guilt 3. Encourages development of resources for help to families and education of health professionals 4. Encourages research 5. Provides framework for enlightened public policy 6. Provides a framework for treatment - Gamblers Anonymous, Naltrexone