WK 9- GAMBLING AND COMPULSIVE BEHAVIOUR

Question 1

What are the 3 types of recommended screening tools for gambling

Answer 1

1. BBGS- brief biosocial gambling screen
2. NODS-CLIP
3. Like-Bet screening instrument

Question 2

What questions are in the brief biosocial gambling screen

Answer 2

3 questions

1. Withdrawal: During the past 12 months, have you become restless, irritable or anxious when trying to stop/cut down on gambling?
2. Deceive: During the past 12 months, have you tried to keep your family or friends from knowing how much you gambled?
3. Bailout/Need Money: During the past 12 months, did you have such financial trouble that you had to get help with living expenses from family, friends, or welfare?

Question 3

What questions are in the NODS-CLIP questionnaire

Answer 3

1. Loss of Control: Have you ever tried to stop, cut down, or control your gambling?
2. Lying: Have you ever lied to family members, friends or others about how much you gamble or how much money you lost on gambling?
3. Preoccupation: Have there been periods lasting 2 weeks or longer when you spent a lot of time thinking about your gambling experiences, or planning out future gambling ventures or bets?

Question 4

What 2 questions are in the Like-Bet screening instrument

Answer 4

1) Have you ever felt the need to bet more and more money?

2) Have you ever had to lie to people important to you about how much you gambled?

Question 5

What component do all three of the betting questionnaires have in common

Answer 5

all questionnaires have the ‘lying’ component→ need to be aware of who the gambling is harming

Question 6

What are the 3 types of treatment that have proved to be effective when dealing with gambling

Answer 6

1. CBT and motivational interviewing- effective at lower end of spectrum
2. Practitioner delivered or group psychological interventions
3. Naltrexone-> dampens down reward pathway- not on PBS
   - Not effective: Antidepressants and self-help psychological interventions

Question 7

According to the ICD-10, what is dependence

Answer 7

A cluster of behavioural, cognitive, and physiological phenomena that develop after repeated substance use and that typically include a strong desire to take the drug, difficulties in controlling its use, persisting in its use despite harmful consequences, a higher priority given to drug use than to other activities and obligations, increased tolerance, and sometimes a physical withdrawal state.

Question 8

Who are the people most at risk of developing a gambling addiction

Answer 8

people who are most at risk are the people who have low SES; in the mindset that they can spend money at a chance of winning a large sum→ not true and leaves them in a cycle

Question 9

What neurotransmitter is involved in creating the ‘addictiveness’ surrounding gambling

Answer 9

Dopamine- a dopamine surge occurs after a win, triggering a ‘good feeling’

Question 10

What is the definition of problem gambling

Answer 10

Difficulties limiting money and/or time spent on gambling which leads to adverse consequence for the gambler, others or for the community.

Question 11

What is the definition of pathological gambling

Answer 11

Persistent and recurrent maladaptive gambling behaviour that disrupts personal, family or vocational pursuits DSM 4
-People move between the 2 states leading to the term ‘disordered gambling’ in DSM-5

Question 12

What are the recommendations surrounding screening for gambling dependence

Answer 12

Screening with 3 item screening tool then refer to trained specialist if positive
-Adults, adolescents and children with mental health problems or at risk be screened with validated tool
→ Doctors will screen but specialists will aid in treatment

Question 13

Who are the high risk people who should be screened for gambling dependence

Answer 13

those with a history of anxiety, depression, family violence, alcohol or drug abuse, impulse control issues or ‘personality disordered gambling’

Question 14

What are some techniques to suggest someone with gambling dependence overcomes their dependency

Answer 14

1. setting goals
2. setting a budget on how much you will spend in a) one gambling session and b) one week
3. Limit the time spent gambling (say only have an hour session)
4. Develop ways to not ‘chase your losses’- consider your losses as the cost of entertainment and don’t try to make up for what you have already lost (losses drive people to continue to gamble)
5. Keep a daily diary to record your gambling. Use a notebook to record the amount of time gambling, number of occasions, wins and losses