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CORK Bibliography: Gambling

51 citations. 2009 to present

Prepared: June 2009

Acheson A; Robinson JL; Glahn DC; Lovallo WR; Fox PT. Differential activation of the anterior cingulate cortex and caudate nucleus during a gambling simulation in persons with a family history of alcoholism: Studies from the Oklahoma Family Health Patterns Project. Drug and Alcohol Dependence 100(1-2): 17-23, 2009. (43 refs.)

Individuals with a family history of alcoholism (FH+) are at enhanced risk of developing an alcohol or other substance use disorder relative to those without this history (FH-). Recent studies comparing FH+ and FH- individuals have revealed differences in cognition, emotion processing, sociability, and decision-making. These differences suggest possible altered brain functioning in FH+ individuals that may play a crucial role in Vulnerability to substance use disorders. In the present study, 15 FH+ and 19 FH- individuals performed the Iowa GamblingTask (IGT), a simulated card game requiring integration of payoff-to-penalty ratios, while undergoing functional magnetic resonance imaging. All participants performed the task more conservatively as the session progressed, and the FH groups achieved similar payoffs by the end of the game. Imaging revealed a distributed network of brain regions that was engaged when subjects performed this task, including the right inferior frontal and postcentral gyri, left parahippocampal gyros, insula and precuneous cortices, left inferior and superior parietal lobules, left lentiform nucleus and bilateral culmen, claustrum, lingual gyri and cerebellar tonsils. Despite a lack of behavioral differences between groups, the FH+ participants showed significantly more activation in the left dorsal anterior cingulate cortex and left caudate nucleus. These findings correspond to models of risk in FH+ persons that postulate biases in brain decision-making systems as underlying elevated risk for alcoholism.

Adams PJ; Raeburn J; de Silva K. A question of balance: Prioritizing public health responses to harm from gambling. Addiction 104(5): 688-691, 2009. (22 refs.)

To provide an overview on the nature and importance of public health approaches to the global expansion of commercial gambling. Three key areas of public health activity are examined: harm minimization, health promotion and the political determinants for change. The rapid proliferation of gambling experienced in many countries is driven by the commercial development of new products orientated around continuous and rapid mass consumption. This is particularly the case with ongoing refinements to electronic gambling machines and the development of new gambling technologies using the internet and mobile telephones. So far responses to negative impacts have, on the whole, focused upon individualized treatment interventions. A public health approach to gambling offers a broad range of strategies to tackle the wider implications of gambling expansion: harm reduction provides evidence-based strategies for managing identifiable harm; health promotion focuses upon communities building their capacity, knowledge and resilience with regard to the attractions of gambling, and action on the political determinants sets out to increase the accountability and reduce the conflicts of interest that influence government resolve in managing their gambling environments. In this new environment of mass consumption, efforts in developing treatment responses to problem gambling need to be balanced with, at least, equal efforts in developing public health responses. With the expansion of commercial gambling occurring globally, international agencies could play a critical role in supporting public health initiatives.

Adams PJ; Raeburn J; de Silva K. Gambling beneficiaries having their cake and eating it: The attractions of avoiding responsible gambling regulation. (editorial). Addiction 104(5): 697-698, 2009. (15 refs.)

Alegria AA; Petry NM; Hasin DS; Liu SM; Grant BF; Blanco C. Disordered gambling among racial and ethnic groups in the US: Results from the National Epidemiologic Survey on Alcohol and Related Conditions. CNS Spectrums 14(3): 132-142, 2009. (99 refs.)

Introduction: Prior research suggests that racial minority groups in the United States are more vulnerable to develop a gambling disorder than whites. However, no national survey on gambling disorders exists that has focused on ethnic differences. Methods: Analyses of this study were based on the National Epidemiologic Survey on Alcohol and Related Conditions, a large (N = 43,093) nationally representative survey of the adult (>= 18 years of age) population residing in households during 2001-2002 period. Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fourth Edition-Text Revision diagnoses of pathological gambling, mood, anxiety, drug use, and personality disorders were based on the Alcohol Use Disorder and Associated Disabilities Interview Schedule-DSM-IVVersion. Results: Prevalence rates of disordered gambling among blacks (2.2%) and Native/Asian. Americans (2.3%) were higher than that of whites (1.2%). Demographic characteristics and psychiatric comorbidity differed among Hispanic, black, and white disordered gamblers. However, all racial and ethnic group, evidenced similarities with respect to symptom patterns, time course, and treatment seeking for pathological gambling. Conclusion: The prevalence of disordered gambling, but not its or set or course of symptoms, varies by racial a id ethnic group. These varying prevalence rates may reflect, at least in part, cultural differences in gambling and its acceptability and accessibility. These data may inform the need for targeted prevention strategies for high-risk racial a id ethnic groups.

Alvarez-Moya EM; Jimenez-Murcia S; Moragas L; Gomez-Pena M; Aymami MN; Ochoa C et al. Executive functioning among female pathological gambling and bulimia nervosa patients: Preliminary findings. Journal of the International Neuropsychological Society 15(2): 302-306, 2009. (31 refs.)

Shared vulnerabilities have been described across disorders of impulse control, including pathological gambling (PG) and bulimia nervosa (BV). Our aim was to compare the executive functioning of PG and BN females in order to confirm their similarity at a neurocognitive level. A total of 15 BN females, and 15 healthy control (HC) females were administered the Wisconsin Card Sorting Test (WCST) and the Stroop Color and Word Test. Analysis of covariance adjusted for age and education was conducted to compare groups. PG showed the greatest impairment, that is, the highest percentage of WCST perseverative errors (p = .023), the lowest percentage of conceptual-level responses (p = .034), and the highest number of total trials administered (p = 0.21), while BN showed the highest percentage of WCST nonperseverative errors (p = .003). Both BN and PG females demonstrated executive dysfunction relative to HCs but different specific correlates (i.e., greater vulnerability to distraction in BN, but more cognitive inflexibility in PG).

Barnes GM; Welte JW; Hoffman JH; Tidwell MCO. Gambling, alcohol, and other substance use among youth in the United States. Journal of Studies on Alcohol and Drugs 70(1): 134-142, 2009. (39 refs.)

Objective: Problem gambling has been linked with substance misuse among youth in a number of regional studies, yet there have been no large representative U.S. surveys of gambling behaviors and substance use among youth. The present study is designed to compare the patterns and co-occurrence of gambling and alcohol and other substance use among youth in the United States. Method: A random telephone survey was conducted with 2,274 youth ages 14-21 years old living in households in every area of the United States. Results: Problem gambling and substance misuse are prevalent among young people. For instance, 17% of youth reported gambling 52 or more times in the past year, and the same percentage of youth drank five or more drinks on 12 or more days in the past year. Ten percent of youth reported having three or more gambling problems in the past year, and 15% of young people reported having three or more alcohol problems. Controlling for gender, age, and socioeconomic status, black youth have a significantly increased probability of frequent gambling compared with other racial/ethnic groups, yet they have a significantly decreased probability of heavy drinking. Alcohol problems and gambling problems show high co-occurrence, especially for male youth and black youth. Conclusions: Population subgroups with a high co-occurrence of alcohol and gambling problems are important for targeted prevention and intervention strategies.

Barry DT; Steinberg MA; Wu R; Potenza MN. Differences in characteristics of Asian American and white problem gamblers calling a gambling helpline. CNS Spectrums 14(2): 83-91, 2009. (39 refs.)

Introduction: The characteristics of Asian American and white problem gamblers using a gambling helpline were examined to identify race-related differences. Methods: Logistic regression analyses were conducted on data obtained from callers to a gambling helpline serving southern New England in 2000-2003, inclusive. Results: Of the 144 phone calls used in the analyses, 72 were from Asian American callers and 72 were from white callers who were matched on gender, education, income, marital/cohabitation status, and age. Race-related differences were observed in forms of gambling problems, psychiatric problems secondary to gambling, substance use problems, and family history. Asian American gamblers were more likely to report suicide attempts related to gambling and problems with non-strategic gambling. White gamblers were more likely to report both casino and non-casino gambling problems and personal and familial alcohol use problems. High proportions of both groups reported problems with strategic gambling, gambling-related anxiety, family and financial problems secondary to gambling, financial debt, daily tobacco use, and a family history of problem gambling. Conclusion: Race-related differences should be considered in optimizing prevention and treatment strategies related to problem gambling.

Bostwick JM; Hecksel KA; Stevens SR; Bower JH; Ahlskog JE. Frequency of new-onset pathologic compulsive gambling or hypersexuality after drug treatment of idiopathic Parkinson disease. Mayo Clinical Proceedings 84(4): 310-316, 2009. (38 refs.)

OBJECTIVE: To determine the frequency of new-onset compulsive gambling or hypersexuality among regional patients with Parkinson disease (PD), ascertaining the relationship of these behaviors to PD drug use. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of patients from 7 rural southeastern Minnesota counties who had at least 1 neurology appointment for PD between July 1., 2004, and June 30, 2006. The main outcome measure was compulsive gambling or hypersexuality developing after parkinsonism onset, including the temporal relationship to PD drug use. RESULTS: Of 267 patients with 1313 who met the study inclusion criteria, new-onset gambling or hypersexuality was documented in 7 (2.6%). All were among the 66 patients (10.6%) taking a dopamine agonist. Moreover, all 7 (18.4%) were among 38 patients taking therapeutic doses (defined as >= 2 mg of pramipexole or 6 mg of ropinlrole daily). Behaviors were clearly pathologic and disabling In 5: 7.6% of all patients taking an agonist and 13.2% of those taking therapeutic doses. Of the 5 patients, 2 had extensive treatment for what was considered a primary psychiatric problem before the agonist connection was recognized. CONCLUSION: Among the study patients with PD, new-onset compulsive gambling or hypersexuality was documented In 7 (18.4%) of 38 patients taking therapeutic doses of dopamine agonists but was not found among untreated patients, those taking subtherapeutic agonist doses, or those taking carbidopa/levodopa alone. Behaviors abated with discontinuation of agonist therapy or dose reduction. Because this Is a retrospective study, cases may have been missed, and hence this study may reflect an underestimation of the true frequency. Physicians who care for patients taking these drugs should recognize the drug's potential to induce pathologic syndromes that sometimes masquerade as primary psychiatric disease.

Cotte J; Latour KA. Blackjack in the kitchen: Understanding online versus casino gambling. Journal of Consumer Research 35(5): 742-758, 2009. (49 refs.)

About $10 billion a year is spent by consumers worldwide on online gambling, and that number continues to grow. We present a qualitative, image-based study of 30 Las Vegas online and casino gamblers. By examining online gambling as a consumption experience, we examine what happens to consumption meaning as gambling moves away from a regulated physical space to an unregulated online space, one accessed from home. We explore the meaning of online gambling consumption to consumers and flesh out the social welfare implications of our findings.

Dagher A; Robbins TW. Personality, addiction, dopamine: Insights from Parkinson's Disease. (review). Neuron 61(4): 502-510, 2009. (86 refs.)

In rare instances, patients with Parkinson's disease (PD) may become addicted to their own medication or develop behavioral addictions such as pathological gambling. This is surprising because PD patients typically have a very low incidence of drug abuse and display a personality type that is the polar opposite of the addictive personality. These rare addictive syndromes, which appear to result from excessive dopaminergic medication use, illustrate the link between dopamine, personality, and addiction. We describe the clinical phenomena and attempt to relate them to current models of learning and addiction. We conclude that persistently elevated dopaminergic stimulation promotes the development and maintenance of addictive behaviors.

de Ruiter MB; Veltman DJ; Goudriaan AE; Oosterlaan J; Sjoerds Z; van den Brink W et al. Response perseveration and ventral prefrontal sensitivity to reward and punishment in male problem gamblers and smokers. Neuropsychopharmacology 34(4): 1027-1038, 2009. (66 refs.)

Pathological gambling (PG) is associated with maladaptive perseverative behavior, but the underlying mechanism and neural circuitry is not completely clear. Here, the hypothesis was tested that PG is characterized by response perseveration and abnormalities in reward and/or punishment sensitivity in the ventral frontostriatal circuit. Executive functioning was assessed to verify if these effects are independent of the dorsal frontostriatal circuit. A group of smokers was also included to examine whether impairments in PG generalize to substance use disorders. Response perseveration and reward/punishment sensitivity were measured with a probabilistic reversal-learning task, in which subjects could win and lose money. Executive functioning was measured with a planning task, the Tower of London. Performance and fMRI data were acquired in 19 problem gamblers, 19 smokers, and 19 healthy controls. Problem gamblers showed severe response perseveration, associated with reduced activation of right ventrolateral prefrontal cortex in response to both monetary gain and loss. Results did not fully generalize to smokers. Planning performance and related activation of the dorsal frontostriatal circuit were intact in both problem gamblers and smokers. PG is related to response perseveration and diminished reward and punishment sensitivity as indicated by hypoactivation of the ventrolateral prefrontal cortex when money is gained and lost. Moreover, intact planning abilities and normal dorsal frontostriatal responsiveness indicate that this deficit is not due to impaired executive functioning. Response perseveration and ventral prefrontal hyporesponsiveness to monetary loss may be markers for maladaptive behavior seen in chemical and nonchemical addictions.

Dickerson DL; O'Malley SS; Canive J; Thuras P; Westermeyer J. Nicotine dependence and psychiatric and substance use comorbidities in a sample of American Indian male veterans. Drug and Alcohol Dependence 99(1-3): 169-175, 2009. (30 refs.)

Background: American Indians and Alaska Natives have the highest rates of nicotine dependence in the U.S. However, studies analyzing associations between nicotine dependence and psychiatric and substance use disorders in these groups have been limited. Methods: This study analyzes the co-occurrence current and lifetime DSM-III-R nicotine dependence with psychiatric and substance use disorders ill a Community sample of 490 American Indian male veterans. Results: Lifetime nicotine dependence (23.3%) was associated with all lifetime disorders studied, including alcohol use and drug use disorders, and anxiety disorders, PTSD, pathological gambling and antisocial personality disorder. Current nicotine dependence was present in 19% affective, of the sample and significantly associated with current affective aid gambling disorder. Conclusions: Substantial co-morbidity exists between nicotine dependence and other Substance abuse and psychiatric disorders among this sample of American Indian male veterans, particularly for lifetime diagnoses. Screening for all psychiatric disorders among American Indian/Alaska Native smokers may be warranted. Although these results are similar to those observed among the general U.S. population, unique risk factors exist among American Indians/Alaska Natives which may require further attention. Specific public health and clinical interventions to reduce the rate of nicotine dependence among American Indians/Alaska Natives are recommended.

Dorn D; Sengmueller P. Trading as entertainment? Management Science 55(4): 591-603, 2009. (42 refs.)

Among 1,000 German brokerage clients for whom both survey responses and actual trading records are available, investors who report enjoying investing or gambling turn over their portfolio at twice the rate of their peers. Including entertainment attributes as additional explanatory variables in cross-sectional regressions of portfolio turnover on objective investor attributes more than doubles the fraction of the total variation of portfolio turnover that can be explained. The results are robust to controlling for gender and proxies for overconfidence constructed from survey responses. Nonpecuniary benefits of trading thus appear to offer a straightforward explanation of the "excessive trading puzzle."

Dowling N. Client characteristics associated with treatment attrition and outcome in female pathological gambling. Addiction Research & Theory 17(2): 205-219, 2009. (57 refs.)

The current study was an exploratory investigation of client factors associated with treatment attrition and failure 6 months following treatment by female pathological gamblers. The sample comprised 77 females attending a cognitive-behavioural treatment program for pathological gambling. Participants were compared on selected client factors that have been traditionally associated with attrition and outcome in the alcohol and substance dependence literature. The results indicate that although treatment dropouts and completers did not differ on any client factor, participants displaying uncontrolled treatment outcomes reported significantly more severe gambling behaviour than participants achieving abstinent or controlled treatment outcomes. Clinicians can respond to these indicators of higher risk of treatment failure by increasing the emphasis of relapse prevention approaches in pathological gambling interventions.

Gomes K; Pascual-Leone A. Primed for change: Facilitating factors in problem gambling treatment. Journal of Gambling Studies 25(1): 1-17, 2009. (42 refs.)

To successfully facilitate the treatment of problem gambling, change processes should be examined in order to identify those variables that differentiate good versus poor treatment outcomes. The current study explored the change facilitating effects of certain characteristics or conditions of an individual being treated: emotional support, instrumental support, emotional awareness, GA involvement, and depressed affect. These conditions were hypothesized to be predictive of a change-oriented mindset (i.e., "resources for change") measured by abstinence self-efficacy, motivation for change, and readiness for change. Participants were 60 outpatients (54.2% male; M age = 46.7 years) with problem gambling recruited from several treatment centres throughout Ontario, Canada. Results indicated that: (1) depressed affect and emotional support seem to influence self-efficacy for abstinence, (2) emotional support alone appears to influence motivation for change, and (3) GA involvement, depressed affect, and emotional awareness, together, seem to influence readiness for change. These findings have implications for promoting change oriented dispositions in problem gambling individuals.

Granero R; Penelo E; Martinez-Gimenez R; Alvarez-Moya E; Gomez-Pena M; Aymami MN. Sex differences among treatment-seeking adult pathologic gamblers. Comprehensive Psychiatry 50(2): 173-180, 2009. (84 refs.)

Objective: The purpose of this study is to explore the effect of sex as a moderator variable for gambling and clinical profiles in a large sample of Spanish treatment-seeking patients for pathologic gambling (PG). Method: Clinical and personality profiles were compared between 143 male and 143 female pathologic gamblers who sought consultation at a specialized hospital unit. Multiple regressions explored the incremental predictive accuracy of sex on PG severity in consideration of sociodemographic and psychologic characteristics. Results: Men gambled most frequently using slot machines and lotteries, spent more money, and had most arguments with family and friends. Although the age of onset of PG was 7.1 years higher for females, the severity was equal for both sexes. Women evidenced more general psychopathology, with higher mean scores in all the Symptom ChekList-90 items scales (except for hostility and psychoticism), and had significantly higher scores for harm avoidance and lower scores for self-directedness than the male group. However, sex alone did not obtain a significant incremental validity for PG severity. Conclusions: These results may provide guidance for obtaining accurate diagnostic information about PG, properly identifying patients with specific needs and planning sex-specific targets.

Grant JE; Desai RA; Potenza MN. Relationship of nicotine dependence, subsyndromal and pathological gambling, and other psychiatric disorders: Data From the National Epidemiologic Survey on Alcohol and Related Conditions. Journal of Clinical Psychiatry 70(3): 334-343, 2009. (46 refs.)

Objective: Nicotine dependence frequently co-occurs with subsyndromal and pathological levels of gambling. The relationship of nicotine dependence, levels of gambling pathology, and other psychiatric disorders, however, is incompletely understood. Method: To use nationally representative data from the National Epidemiologic Survey on Alcohol and Related Conditions to examine the influence of DSM-IV nicotine dependence on the association between pathological gambling severities and other psychiatric disorders. Face-to-face interviews were conducted with 43,093 adults living in households and group-quarters in the United States. The main outcome measure was the co-occurrence of current nicotine dependence and Axis I and II disorders and severity of gambling based on the 10 inclusionary diagnostic criteria for pathological gambling. The study was conducted from 2001 to 2002. Results: Among non-nicotine-dependent respondents, increasing gambling severity was associated with greater psychopathology for the majority of Axis I and II disorders. This pattern was not uniformly observed among nicotine-dependent subjects. Significant nicotine-by-gambling-group interactions were observed for multiple Axis I and II disorders. All significant interactions involved stronger associations between gambling and psychopathology in the non-nicotine-dependent group. Conclusions: In a large national sample, nicotine dependence influences the associations between gambling and multiple psychiatric disorders. Subsyndromal levels of gambling are associated with significant psychopathology. Nicotine dependence accounts for some of the elevated risks for psychopathology associated with subsyndromal and problem/pathological levels of gambling. Additional research is needed to examine specific prevention and treatment for individuals with problem/pathological gambling with and without nicotine dependence.

Grant JE; Kim SW; Odlaug BL; Buchanan SN; Potenza MN. Late-onset pathological gambling: Clinical correlates and gender differences. Journal of Psychiatric Research 43(4): 380-387, 2009. (39 refs.)

Age at illness onset has significant clinical implications for psychiatric disorders. Prior research has not systematically examined age at illness onset and its relationship to the clinical characteristics of pathological gambling (PG). Among a sample of 322 consecutive subjects with current DSM-IV PG, those with late-onset (at or after age 55 years) PG were compared to those with earlier onsets (at or prior to age 25, 26-54 years old) on measures of PG severity, co-occurring disorders, social and legal problems, and family history. Forty-two (13.4%) subjects reported onset of PG at or after age 55 years, 63 (19.6%) reported onset prior to age 25 years, and the majority (n = 217; 67.4%) reported onset between the ages of 26 and 54 years. The late-onset group were less likely to declare bankruptcy (P = .029) or have credit card debt attributable to gambling (p = .006). Late-onset PG subjects were significantly more likely to have an anxiety disorder (p < .001) and significantly less likely to have a father (p = .025) or a mother (p = .048) with a gambling problem. Exploratory analyses identified an age-by-gender interaction with respect to treatment-seeking, with more pronounced age-related shortening in the duration between problem onset and treatment seeking observed in men. Age at onset of PG is associated with multiple important clinical features. Long durations of PG prior to treatment-seeking indicate the need for improved prevention efforts among individuals with early PG onset. Late-onset PG is relatively common and has distinct clinical characteristics suggesting that this population might benefit from unique prevention and treatment strategies.

Griffiths M; Wardle H; Orford J; Sproston K; Erens B. Sociodemographic correlates of internet gambling: Findings from the 2007 British Gambling Prevalence Survey. Cyberpsychology & Behavior 12(2): 199-202, 2009. (17 refs.)

This study provides the first analysis ever made of a representative national sample of Internet gamblers. Using participant data from the 2007 British Gambling Prevalence Survey (n = 9,003 adults aged 16 years and over), all participants who had gambled online, bet online, and/or used a betting exchange in the last 12 months (n = 476) were compared with all other gamblers who had not gambled via the Internet. Overall, results showed a number of significant sociodemographic differences between Internet gamblers and non-Internet gamblers. When compared to non-Internet gamblers, Internet gamblers were more likely to be male, relatively young adults, single, well educated, and in professional/managerial employment. Further analysis of DSM-IV scores showed that the problem gambling prevalence rate was significantly higher among Internet gamblers than among non-Internet gamblers. Results suggest that the medium of the Internet may be more likely to contribute to problem gambling than gambling in offline environments.

Griffiths MD. Minimizing harm from gambling: What is the gambling industry's role. (editorial). Addiction 104(5): 696-697, 2009. (12 refs.)

Holtgraves T. Evaluating the Problem Gambling Severity Index. Journal of Gambling Studies 25(1): 105-120, 2009. (28 refs.)

A large, integrated survey data set provided by the Ontario Problem Gambling Centre was used to investigate psychometric properties of the Problem Gambling Severity Index (PGSI). This nine-item self-report instrument was designed to measure a single, problem gambling construct. Unlike its nearest competitor-the South Oaks Gambling Screen (SOGS)-the PGSI was designed specifically for use with a general population rather than in a clinical context. The present analyses demonstrated that the PGSI does assess a single, underlying, factor, but that this is complicated by different, multiple factor structures for respondents with differing levels of problem gambling severity. The PGSI also demonstrated small to moderate correlations with measures of gambling frequency and faulty cognitions. Overall, the PGSI presents a viable alternative to the SOGS for assessing degrees of problem gambling severity in a non-clinical context.

Hong SI; Sacco P; Cunningham-Williams RM. An empirical typology of lifetime and current gambling behaviors: Association with health status of older adults. Aging & Mental Health 13(2): 265-273, 2009. (39 refs.)

Purpose: Despite the low prevalence of gambling problems, older adults experience poorer health status given certain vulnerabilities associated with aging. Thus, we aimed to classify lifetime (LPG) and current (CPG) problem gambling patterns, identify determinants of gambling patterns, and examine their association with current health status Methods: Using older adult gamblers (n = 489) in the Gambling Impact and Behavior Study, Latent Class Analysis classified LPG and CPG subgroups based on 10 DSM-IV criteria: preoccupation, tolerance, withdrawal, loss of control, escape, chasing losses, lying, illegal acts, relationship impairment and financial bailout. Results: A two-class solution was the best fitting for LPG and CPG groups. Except for illegal acts, the remaining criteria endorsed the distinguishing patterns. We observed 10.8% LPGs, 8.4% CPGs and 2.2% with both. Participation in religious services was protective of both groups. Gambling for excitement and to win money were related to CPG. Further, CPG was significantly related to worse self-rated health. Implications: Although problem gambling is strongly characterized by number and type of diagnostic criteria, findings support a focus to include targeted assessment of additional clinically meaningful gambling correlates. Research on the moderator of participation in faith-based communities on problem gambling is also warranted.

Jardin B; Wulfert E. The use of messages in altering risky gambling behavior in college students: An experimental analogue study. American Journal on Addictions 18(3): 243-247, 2009. (20 refs.)

This study examined the effects of messages on altering risky gambling behavior in college students. While playing a chance-based computerized game with play money, three groups of participants either viewed occasional accurate messages that correctly described the contingencies of the game, neutral messages unrelated to the contingencies, or no messages. Participants in the accurate message condition spent overall less money gambling, played fewer trials in the final phase of the game when all trials resulted in losses, and were more likely to quit the game while they still had money remaining in the bank. The findings suggest that reminders about the random nature of games and the overall negative rate of return might lead to more responsible gaming.

Jimenez-Murcia S; Stinchfield R; Alvarez-Moya E; Jaurrieta N; Bueno B; Granero R et al. Reliability, validity, and classification accuracy of a Spanish translation of a measure of DSM-IV diagnostic criteria for pathological gambling. Journal of Gambling Studies 25(1): 93-104, 2009. (36 refs.)

The aim of this study was to measure the reliability, validity, and classification accuracy of a Spanish translation of a measure of DSM-IV diagnostic criteria for Pathological Gambling (PG). Participants were 263 male and 23 female patients seeking treatment for PG and a matched non-psychiatric control sample of 259 men and 24 women. A Spanish translation of a 19-item measure of DSM-IV diagnostic criteria for PG (Stinchfield 2003) was administered along with other validity measures. The DSM-IV diagnostic criteria were found to be internally consistent with a coefficient alpha of .95 in the combined sample. Evidence of satisfactory convergent validity included moderate to high correlations with other measures of problem gambling. Using the standard DSM-IV cut-score of five, the ten criteria were found to yield satisfactory classification accuracy results with a high hit rate (.95), high sensitivity (.92), high specificity (.99), low false positive (.01), and low false negative rate (.08). Lowering the cut score to four resulted in modest improvements in classification accuracy and reduced the false negative rate from .08 to .05. The Spanish translation of a measure of DSM-IV diagnostic criteria for PG demonstrated satisfactory psychometric properties and a cut score of four improved diagnostic precision.

Johansson A; Grant JE; Kim SW; Odlaug BL; Gotestam KG. Risk factors for problematic gambling: A critical literature review. (review). Journal of Gambling Studies 25(1): 67-92, 2009. (63 refs.)

This article is a critical review of risk factors for pathological gambling categorized by demographics, physiological and biological factors, cognitive distortions, comorbidity and concurrent symptoms, and personality symptoms and characteristics. There is also a varia section (availability, parents playing, sensory characteristics, schedules of reinforcement, age of onset, and playing duration). The review found very few well established risk factors for pathological gambling (i.e. more than two studies to support the conclusions). Well established risk factors included demographic variables (age, gender), cognitive distortions (erroneous perceptions, illusion of control), sensory characteristics, schedules of reinforcement, comorbid disorders (OCD, drug abuse), and delinquency/illegal acts. An understanding of risk factors for pathological gambling should enhance prevention and treatment approaches.

Kim SW; Grant JE; Potenza MN; Blanco C; Hollander E. The Gambling Symptom Assessment Scale (G-SAS): A reliability and validity study. Psychiatry Research 166(1): 76-84, 2009. (19 refs.)

Two hundred seven patients with DSM-IV Pathological Gambling Disorder completed both the Gambling Symptom Assessment Scale (G-SAS) and the Yale-Brown Obsessive-Compulsive Scale - modified for Pathological Gambling (PG-YBOCS) at baseline visit and weekly or biweekly thereafter during the 12-week study period. The week 1 to week 2 visit data were used to assess test-retest reliability. Weekly or biweekly data were used for the G-SAS validity. The PG-YBOCS reliability and validity data have been published previously. We used the PG-YBOCS as the established scale and compared the G-SAS performance with the PG-YBOCS. Test-retest reliability was statistically significant. The correlations between the G-SAS and the PG-YBOCS and Clinical Global impression rating were excellent. Findings suggest that the G-SAS is reliable and valid in assessing changes in symptoms during a drug treatment study.

Ko CH; Liu GC; Hsiao SM; Yen JY; Yang MJ; Lin WC et al. Brain activities associated with gaming urge of online gaming addiction. Journal of Psychiatric Research 43(7): 739-747, 2009. (38 refs.)

The aim of this study was to identify the neural substrates of online gaming addiction through evaluation of the brain areas associated with the cue-induced gaming urge. Ten participants with online gaming addiction and 10 control subjects without online gaming addiction were tested. They were presented with gaming pictures and the paired mosaic pictures while undergoing functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) scanning. The contrast in blood-oxygen-level dependent (BOLD) signals when viewing gaming pictures and when viewing mosaic pictures was calculated with the SPM2 software to evaluate the brain activations. Right orbitofrontal cortex, right nucleus accumbens, bilateral anterior cingulate and medial frontal cortex, right dorsolateral prefrontal cortex, and right caudate nucleus were activated in the addicted group in contrast to the control group. The activation of the region-of-interest (ROI) defined by the above brain areas was positively correlated with self-reported gaming urge and recalling of gaming experience provoked by the WOW pictures. The results demonstrate that the neural substrate of cue-induced gaming urge/craving in online gaming addiction is similar to that of the cue-induced craving in substance dependence. The above-mentioned brain regions have been reported to contribute to the craving in substance dependence, and here we show that the same areas were involved in online gaming urge/craving. Thus, the results suggest that the gaming urge/craving in online gaming addiction and craving in substance dependence might share the same neurobiological mechanism.

Ladouceur R; Lachance S; Fournier PM. Is control a viable goal in the treatment of pathological gambling? Behavior Research and Therapy 47(3): 189-197, 2009. (52 refs.)

According to a report of National Gambling Impact Study Commission (National Gambling Impact Study Commission (1999). Final report. Washington, DC: Government Printing Office.), 97% of problem gamblers in the United States do not seek treatment. Within the small proportion of problem gamblers who enter into treatment, a high percentage drops out. Despite the fact that some researchers argue against abstinence as the only acceptable treatment goal and that regaining control over gambling behaviour appears to be possible for some pathological gamblers (PG), abstinence has been the only gambling intervention treatment goal. The primary goal of this study was to verify whether controlled gambling is a viable goal for pathological gamblers. The second goal was to identify the characteristics that predicted a successful outcome for treatment with a controlled gambling goal. Eighty-nine PGs were enrolled in cognitive-behavioural treatment aimed at controlled gambling. Six and twelve month follow-ups were conducted in order to evaluate the maintenance of therapeutic gains and to identify significant predictors of successful controlled gambling. Results showed that using the intent-to-treat procedure, 63% had a score of 4 or less on the DSM-IV at the end of treatment. That proportion was 56% and 51% at the 6- and 12-month follow-ups. If we retain only those who completed the treatment, these proportions increased to 92%, 80% and 71% at post-treatment, 6- and 12-month follow-ups, respectively. On the majority of the measures. significant improvements were found at post-treatment and the therapeutic gains were maintained at the 6- and 12-month follow-ups. However, few variables were identified to predict who would benefit from control rather than abstinence. The clinical and philosophical implications of these results are discussed in this paper.

Law D; Peel DA. Skewness as an explanation of gambling in cumulative prospect theory. Applied Economics 41(6): 685-689, 2009. (11 refs.)

Skewness of return has been suggested as a reason why agents might choose to gamble, ceteris paribus, in cumulative prospect theory (CPT). We investigate the relationship between moments of return in two models where agents choices over uncertain outcomes are determined as in CPT. We illustrate via examples that in CPT theory, as with expected utility theory, propositions that agents have a preference for skewness may be invalid.

Leung KS; Cottler LB. Treatment of pathological gambling. (review). Current Opinion in Psychiatry 22(1): 69-74, 2009. (47 refs.)

Purpose of review: This paper highlights the development of pharmacological and nonpharmacological treatments for pathological gambling and is based on a review of the literature published in the past 12 months. Recent findings: The efficacy of naltrexone treatment for pathological gambling has been replicated in a double-blind, placebo-controlled, confirmatory study. For mood stabilizers, whereas carbamazepine and topiramate continued to produce positive results, olanzapine failed to show superior outcomes compared with placebo control. Two new pharmacological agents for pathological gambling, N-acetyl cysteine and modafinil, produced significant improvement for pathological gamblers. Several studies examined the outcomes of nonpharmacological treatments. Recent studies showed that cognitive-behavioral therapy failed to produce superior outcomes compared with other less costly methods such as brief interventions. Two new nonpharmacological treatment methods have been reported, including the use of videoconferencing in delivering ongoing supervisions after exposure therapy and the congruence couple therapy, which aims to heal the person as a system whole. Summary: Recent treatment outcomes studies address not only the effectiveness, but also the efficacy of different treatment approaches. Results of two meta-analysis studies showed that nonpharmacological treatments have a larger overall effect size than pharmacological treatments; however, owing to the diversity in study designs, it is unclear whether non pharmacological treatments are more effective than pharmacological treatments at this point.

Liu T; Madejewski PK; Potenza MN. The relationship between recreational gambling and substance abuse/dependence: Data from a nationally representative sample. Drug and Alcohol Dependence 100(1-2): 164-168, 2009. (46 refs.)

Background: Although recreational gambling is prevalent and co-occurs with substance abuse/dependence, few studies have investigated the relationship between the two. Methods: Logistic regression analyses were performed on data from a nationally representative sample from the Gambling Impact and Behavior Study. Results: Substance-abusing recreational gamblers, as compared to non-substance-abusing ones, differed in gambling motivations, began gambling at earlier ages, reported heavier gambling, and preferred and performed strategic forms of gambling. Conclusions: As compared with non-substance-abusing gamblers, substance-abusing gamblers demonstrated different gambling profiles including heavier gambling. These findings suggest the need for additional research on whether and how substance use might promote gambling and vice versa.

Miller JC; Meier E; Muehlenkamp J; Weatherly JN. Testing the construct validity of Dixon and Johnson's (2007) Gambling Functional Assessment. Behavior Modification 33(2): 156-174, 2009. (28 refs.)

The Gambling Functional Assessment (GFA; Dixon & Johnson, 2007) is a 20-item self-report inventory identifying four potential consequences maintaining gambling behavior. Exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses are performed for two large, nonclinical samples of university undergraduates. For the exploratory analysis, the optimal model yields two factors: Positive Reinforcement (correlated with GFA Sensory, Attention, and Tangible scores) and Negative Reinforcement (correlated with GFA Escape scores). One GFA item fails to load on either factor adequately. Factor loadings are confirmed using structural equation modeling for the second sample. The resulting model yields a mix of adequate and suboptimal fit indicators. Although the 2-factor model of the GFA has great theoretical utility and shows significant promise, confirmation within clinical samples of gamblers will be necessary to further validate the model. GFA Escape scores are uniquely distributed in the two samples and may represent functions most likely to maintain pathological gambling.

Miller JC; Meier E; Weatherly JN. Assessing the reliability of the Gambling Functional Assessment. Journal of Gambling Studies 25(1): 121-129, 2009. (18 refs.)

Dixon and Johnson (Analysis of Gambling Behavior 2007, 1:44-49) introduced the Gambling Functional Assessment (GFA), which attempts to identify the consequences that may be maintaining a person's gambling behavior. The present study had 949 introductory psychology students complete the GFA, with 124 of them completing the measure a second time 12 weeks later. Measures of internal consistency were quite good regardless of whether "non-gamblers" were included or excluded. Test-retest reliability was somewhat mixed, with Escape scores yielding substandard coefficients, especially among females. Both internal and test-retest reliability were typically poorer for female respondents. In general, the GFA performed within the limits of acceptable reliability, and coefficients compared favorably with similar measures. Future investigations will need to determine the reliability and validity of the instrument, especially as it pertains to its intended population, pathological gamblers.

Molde H; Pallesen S; Bartone P; Hystad S; Johnsen BH. Prevalence and correlates of gambling among 16 to 19-year-old adolescents in Norway. Scandinavian Journal of Psychology 50(1): 55-64, 2009. (78 refs.)

There is evidence that young people are at high risk of developing gambling disorders. The prevalence and correlates of gambling among youth therefore merit closer study. During spring 2004, a sample of 1,351 boys and girls (aged 16-19 years) from 151 high-school classes (clusters) participated in an internet survey about gambling. The response rate was 69.8%. The instruments used in the survey were the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale, the Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test and the Massachusetts Adolescent Gambling Screen, in addition to questions about demography. Controlling for the design effect, the estimated prevalence rate was 2.5% for pathological gambling and 1.9% for problem gambling. In all, 7.3% of the boys and 0.6% of the girls fulfilled the criteria for pathological or problem gambling. The results of item analysis of the DSM-IV subscale of MAGS provide support for differential item functioning between boys and girls. A multiple logistic regression analysis revealed that gender (male: OR = 9.09), depression (OR = 9.23), alcohol abuse (OR = 3.62), and dissociation (OR = 1.96) were related to problem and pathological gambling. These results support the view that gambling disorders are best understood as part of an addictive behavior spectrum (Jacobs, 2000).

Momper SL; Nandi V; Ompad DC; Delva J; Galea S. The prevalence and types of gambling among undocumented Mexican immigrants in New York City. Journal of Gambling Studies 25(1): 49-65, 2009. (44 refs.)

Objectives To examine the prevalence of gambling and types of gambling activities in a sample of undocumented Mexican immigrants. Design Non-probability cross-sectional design. Setting New York City. Sample The 431 respondents ranged in age from 18 to 80 (mean age 32), 69.7% were male. Results More than half (53.8%) reported gambling in their lifetime and of those most (43.9%) played scratch and win tickets or the lottery. In multivariate analyses men reported gambling more than women [2.13, 95% CI = (1.03, 4.38)]. The odds of gambling in their lifetime were higher among those reporting sending money to family or friends in the home country [2.65, 95% CI = 1.10, 6.38)], and those who reported 1-5 days as compared to no days of poor mental health in the past 30 days [2.44, 95% CI = 1.22, 4.89)]. Conversely, those who reported entering the U.S. to live after 1996 were less likely to report gambling [0.44, 95% CI = (0.22, 0.89)] as compared to those who had lived in the U.S. longer. Conclusion There is a need to further explore both the prevalence and the severity of gambling amongst the growing population of undocumented Mexican immigrants in the U.S.

Monaghan S; Blaszczynski A; Nower L. Consequences of winning: The role of gambling outcomes in the development of irrational beliefs. Behavioral and Cognitive Psychotherapy 37(1): 49-59, 2009. (35 refs.)

Background: The development and maintenance of gambling and problem gambling with its corresponding irrational belief's may be fundamentally linked to patterns of wills and losses during electronic gaming machine (EGM) play. Method: The Current Study investigated the extent to which irrational thoughts and erroneous perceptions of chance differed based on individual wins or losses. Undergraduate students (n = 45) completed questionnaires assessing irrational beliefs and perceptions of chance prior to and following EGM play with credits rather than money. Results: It was found that players who lost reported a significantly greater decrease in irrational thoughts and erroneous perceptions of chance and significantly fewer Superstitious belief's than winning players following play. Conclusions: Future studies are needed to further investigate the relationship of winning to cognitive distortions to guide education and interventions.

Monje MTR; Perez EJP; Giron MF; Alonso FG; Cuesta TS. Early detection of addictive behaviour in primary health care. Use of MULTICAGE CAD-4. Atencion Primaria 41(1): 25-32, 2009. (36 refs.)

Objective: To find out the frequency of specific disorders within the general population using primary healthcare relating to the control of impulses with addictive risk. Design: A cross-sectional descriptive study. Location: Urban health centre, Area 9 of the Madrid Health Service (Spain). Participants: A total of 457 patients who came to primary care (PA) were selected by consecutive sampling. Method: Self-completion of the MULTICAGE-CAD4 survey (which measure eight scales for the risky behaviour being studied). Results: There was a risk in at least one of the scales in 46.4% of the sample, of which 17.3% (13.7-20.9) showed risky behaviour on the alcohol scale; 9% (6.2-11.7) for other drugs; 4.4% (2.4-6.4) for gambling; 9.4% (6.6-12.2) for addiction to the Internet; 4.8% (2.7-6.7) for addiction to videogames; 18.8% (15.1-22.5) for eating disorders; 16% (12.5-19.4) for compulsive shopping and 5.5% (3.3-7.7) for addiction to sex. The occurrence of addiction to alcohol, gambling and sex were higher for men, while eating disorders were more prevalent in women. Conclusions: We are facing a widespread set of problems related to addictions that are often hidden; this study shows that these addictions can be detected within primary healthcare by effective screening tools such as MULTICAGE CAD-4, which is both economic, and easy to implement within primary healthcare centres.

Moodie C; Hastings G. Social marketing and problem gambling: A critical perspective. (editorial). Addiction 104(5): 692-693, 2009. (13 refs.)

Myrseth H; Litlere I; Stoylen IJ; Pallesen S. A controlled study of the effect of cognitive-behavioural group therapy for pathological gamblers. Nordic Journal of Psychiatry 63(1): 22-31, 2009. (37 refs.)

As the number of pathological gamblers has increased recently, the need for effective treatment has become more evident. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of a short-term cognitive-behavioural group therapy programme for pathological gamblers. Fourteen subjects (three females and 11 males), who met the criteria for pathological gambling in accordance with the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders IV, were randomly assigned to a Treatment Group (n=7) or a waiting list Control Group (n=7). An experimental design with three repeated measures was used (pre-treatment, post-treatment/post-waiting list and follow-up). The dependent variables were DSM-IV Criteria for Pathological Gambling, Money Spent on Gambling During the Last Week and Gamblers Inventory of Negative Consequences. The Treatment Group improved on the DSM-IV Criteria for Pathological Gambling, but did not show a significant improvement on Money Spent on Gambling During the Last week from pre-treatment to post-treatment. Combining both groups at 3-months follow-up, there was a significant improvement on all three variables from pre-treatment to follow-up. The results of this controlled study indicate that a short-term cognitive-behavioural group treatment for pathological gamblers had an effect.

O'Connor RM; Stewart SH; Watt MC. Distinguishing BAS risk for university students' drinking, smoking, and gambling behaviors. Personality and Individual Differences 46(4): 514-519, 2009. (41 refs.)

Individual differences in Gray's Behavioral Approach System (BAS) and Behavioral Inhibition System (BIS) have been associated with young adults' substance misuse and gambling. To clarify the distinct and common etiology of these behaviors, the current study examined the unique influence of BAS sub-components (Reward Responsiveness, Drive, Fun Seeking) and BIS on university students' drinking, smoking, and gambling behaviors. Participants included 533 (361 females) undergraduate students who completed self reports of BIS/BAS (Carver & White, 1994) and retrospective reports of frequency and quantity/money spent of alcohol use, cigarette use, and gambling. Drinking, smoking, and gambling status were identified based on past month behavior. Logistic regressions revealed that Fun Seeking was associated with increased risk for being a drinker or smoker. BAS and BIS were not supported as unique predictors of gambling status. Linear regressions revealed that Fun Seeking was positively associated with drinking, and Drive and Fun Seeking were positively and negatively associated with gambling, respectively. Findings suggest that different components of BAS sensitivity contribute to drinking and smoking compared to gambling, such that the tendency to seek out new potentially rewarding experiences puts individuals at risk for drinking/smoking, while the tendency to pursue appetitive goals increases risk for gambling.

O'Sullivan SS; Evans AH; Lees AJ. Dopamine dysregulation syndrome: An overview of its epidemiology, mechanisms and management. (review). CNS Drugs 23(2): 157-170, 2009. (140 refs.)

Dopamine dysregulation syndrome (DDS) is a relatively recently described iatrogenic disturbance that may complicate long-term symptomatic therapy of Parkinson's disease. Patients with DDS develop an addictive pattern of dopamine replacement therapy (DRT) use, administering doses in excess of those required to control their motor symptoms. The prevalence of DDS in patients attending specialist Parkinson's disease centres is 3-4%. Amongst the behavioural disturbances associated with DDS are punding, which is a complex stereotyped behaviour, and impulse control disorders (ICDs), such as pathological gambling, hypersexuality, compulsive shopping and compulsive eating. We review the risk factors and potential mechanisms for the development of DDS, including personality traits, potential genetic influences and Parkinson's disease-related cognitive deficits. Impulsive personality traits are prominent in patients developing DDS, and have been previously associated with the development of substance dependence. Candidate genes affecting the dopamine 'D-2-like' receptor family have been associated with impulsive personality traits in addition to drug and nondrug addictions. Impaired decision making is implicated in addictive behaviours, and decision-making abilities can be influenced by dopaminergic medications. In Parkinson's disease, disruption of the reciprocal loops between the striatum and structures in the prefrontal cortex following dopamine depletion may predispose to DDS. The role of DRT in DDS is discussed, with particular reference to models of addiction, suggesting that compulsive drug use is due to progressive neuro-adaptations in dopamine projections to the accumbens-related circuitry. Evidence for neuroadaptations and sensitization occurring in DDS include enhanced levodopa-induced ventral striatal dopamine release. Levodopa is still considered the most potent trigger for DDS in Parkinson's disease, but subcutaneous apomorphine and oral dopamine agonists may also be responsible. In the management of DDS, further research is needed to identify at-risk groups, thereby facilitating more effective early intervention. Therefore, an increased awareness of the syndrome amongst treating physicians is vital. Medication reduction strategies are employed, particularly with regard to avoiding rapidly acting 'booster' DRT formulations. Psychosocial treatments, including cognitive-behavioural therapy, have been beneficial in treating substance use disorders and ICDs in non-Parkinson's disease patients, but there are currently no published trials of psychological interventions in DDS. Further studies are also required to identify factors that can predict those patients with DDS or ICDs who will derive benefit from surgical interventions such as deep brain stimulation.

Pagani LS; Derevensky JL; Japel C. Predicting gambling behavior in sixth grade from kindergarten Impulsivity A Tale of Developmental Continuity. Archives of Pediatrics & Adolescent Medicine 163(3): 238-243, 2009. (57 refs.)

Objective: To examine the relationship between early impulsive behavior, rated by kindergarten teachers, and self-reported gambling in sixth grade. Design: Prospective longitudinal study. Setting: The 1999 kindergarten cohort of the Montreal Longitudinal Preschool Study in Canada. Participants: Written parental consent was obtained for 181 of the 377 children from intact families at kindergarten exclusively selected for follow-up telephone interviews in the fall of sixth grade, 6 years after the initial assessments. Of these, 163 children had complete data in kindergarten (mean age, 5.5 years) and sixth grade (mean age, 11.5 years) for the key variables in the analyses. Main Outcome Measure: Self-reported gambling behavior in sixth grade. Results: A 1-unit increase in kindergarten impulsivity corresponded to a 25% increase in later self-reported child involvement in gambling (SE =. 02). This was above and beyond potential child-and family-related confounds, including parental gambling. Conclusions: Our findings offer insight about how the nature and course of early impulsivity might relate to a significantly higher propensity toward involvement in games of chance in later childhood. It is suggested that developmentally continuous risks associated with early impulsivity place individuals on a risk trajectory toward excessive gambling involvement in adolescence and emerging adulthood.

Paton D; Siegel DS; Williams LV. The growth of gambling and prediction markets: Economic and financial. (editorial) implications. Economica 76(302): 219-224, 2009. (19 refs.)

In recent years, there has been a substantial global increase in gambling and prediction markets, including casinos, sports betting, lotteries, elections and wagering on financial instruments. This trend has heightened interest in numerous economic and financial issues related to this sector. These include questions relating to the efficiency of these markets, heterogeneity in risk attitudes among economic agents, and the use of prediction markets in policy analysis. The papers in this special issue provide a mix of theoretical and empirical evidence on these issues.

Peel D; Law D. A more general non-expected utility model as an explanation of gambling outcomes for individuals and markets. Economica 76(302): 251-263, 2009. (60 refs.)

One feature of experimental work is the heterogeneity in risk attitudes and probability distortion displayed by agents. We outline a more general non-expected utility model, which nests the models of Markowitz, and Kahneman and Tversky. The model can generate the standard favourite-longshot bias or a reverse favourite-longshot bias as a result of optimal behaviour. We also provide new empirical evidence on the relationship between Tote and bookmaker returns and confirm that the relationship is not as originally conjectured by Gabriel and Marsden. We outline how our new model can provide an explanation of the relationship that is observed.

Pulford J; Bellringer M; Abbott M; Clarke D; Hodgins D; Williams J. Reasons for seeking help for a gambling problem: The experiences of gamblers who have sought specialist assistance and the perceptions of those who have not. Journal of Gambling Studies 25(1): 19-32, 2009. (21 refs.)

This paper presents reasons for help-seeking data as reported by users of a national gambling helpline (help-seekers, HS, n = 125) as well as data pertaining to perceived reasons for seeking help as reported by gamblers recruited from the general population (non-help-seekers, NHS, n = 104). All data were collected via a structured, multi-modal survey. Participants in both groups considered help-seeking to be motivated by multiple factors (mean of 6.8 and 10.6 responses, respectively). Responses indicative of financial concern were most frequently reported by both HS and NHS participants (82 & 90%, respectively). Over a third of HS participants (35%) also identified financial concern as their primary reason for seeking help and 50% of NHS participants perceived financial concern to be the primary motivator for seeking help in a problem gambling context. Common types of secondary influence (other than financial concern) included psychological distress (HS & NHS participants), problem prevention (HS participants), rational thought (HS participants), physical health issues (HS participants), and relationship issues (NHS participants). The implications for promoting greater or earlier help-seeking activity amongst problem gamblers are discussed.

Pulford J; Bellringer M; Abbott M; Clarke D; Hodgins D; Williams J et al. Barriers to help-seeking for a gambling problem: The experiences of gamblers who have sought specialist assistance and the perceptions of those who have not. Journal of Gambling Studies 25(1): 33-48, 2009. (32 refs.)

This paper presents barriers to help-seeking data as reported by users of a national gambling helpline (help-seekers, HS, N = 125) as well as data pertaining to perceived barriers to seeking help as reported by gamblers recruited from the general population (non-help-seekers, NHS, N = 104). All data were collected via a structured, multi-modal survey. When asked to identify actual or perceived barriers to seeking help, responses indicative of pride (78% of HS participants, 84% of NHS participants), shame (73% of HS participants, 84% of NHS participants) or denial (87% of NHS participants) were most frequently reported. These three factors were also most often identified as the real or perceived primary barrier to help-seeking (collectively accounting for 55% of HS, and 60% of NHS, responses to this question) and were the only barriers to be identified by more than 10% of either HS and NHS participants without prompting. It was of note, however, that participants in both groups identified multiple barriers to help-seeking (mean of 6.7 and 12.2, respectively) and that, when presented with a list of 21 possible barrier items, NHS participants endorsed 19 of the listed items significantly more often than their HS counterparts. The implications of these findings, with respect to promoting greater or earlier help-seeking activity amongst problem gamblers, are discussed.

Pyles MK; Hahn EJ. Smoke-free legislation and charitable gaming in Kentucky. Tobacco Control 18(1): 60-62, 2009. (30 refs.)

Objective: To determine the effect of municipal smoke-free laws in Kentucky on gross and/or net revenues from charitable gaming activities. Between January 2000 and June 2007, 13 Kentucky communities implemented smoke-free legislation; only three specifically exempted charitable gaming facilities and compliance in several communities was not consistent. Kentucky is a tobacco-growing state that has the highest smoking rate in the United States. Design: A fixed-effects time series design to estimate the impact of municipal smoke-free laws on charitable gaming. Setting: 13 Kentucky counties that implemented smoke-free laws during the study period of January 2000 through June 2007. Subjects: All charitable gaming facilities in 13 counties in which a smoke-free ordinance was enacted during the study period. Main outcome measures: Gross and net revenues from charitable gaming activities in each county for each quarter of the study period, obtained from the Kentucky Department of Charitable Gaming. Results: When controlling for economic variables, county-specific effects and time trends using a robust statistical framework, there was no significant relation between smoke-free laws and charitable gaming revenues. Municipal smoke-free legislation had no effect on charitable gaming revenues. Conclusions: No significant harm to charitable gaming revenues was associated with the smoke-free legislation during the 7.5-year study period, despite the fact that Kentucky is a tobacco-producing state with higher-than-average smoking rates.

Rex J; Jackson DJ. Window of ppportunity? Internet gambling in Canada. Canadian Public Policy 35(1): 121-137, 2009. (55 refs.)

This article investigates the current condition and possible future of Internet gambling in Canada. We apply Howlett's (1998) refinement of Kingdon's "policy windows" theory to examine four windows of opportunity through which Internet gambling might be placed on the Canadian policy agenda. We conclude that Internet gambling is unlikely to reach the agenda through a routine means; instead, the issue might be recognized by policy-makers through alternative routes such as connection to another Internet-related issue or to a crisis that would intensify the political or economic problems related to the current murky status of online gambling.

Shelton KH; Taylor PJ; Bonner A; van den Bree M. Risk factors for homelessness: Evidence from a population-based study. Psychiatric Services 60(4): 465-472, 2009. (49 refs.)

Objective: This study examined factors associated with lifetime experience of homelessness among young adults. Methods: Data were analyzed for 14,888 young adults (mean +/-SD age 21.97+/-1.77; 7,037 men and 7,851 women) who participated in the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health (Add Health), a U. S. nationally representative, population-based sample. Data were collected from young adults through computer-assisted interviews six years after they had enrolled in the study as adolescents. Variables that have been associated with lifetime homelessness in at least one service sample were mapped to Add Health survey items. Data were analyzed by logistic regression. Results: A total of 682 respondents (4.6%) were classified as ever being homeless. Several factors related to childhood experiences of poor family functioning, socioeconomic disadvantage, and separation from parents or caregivers were independently associated with ever being homeless. Other significant independent factors included current socioeconomic difficulty, mental health problems, and addiction problems. Indicators of involvement in crime and addiction problems with gambling and alcohol were not independently associated with homelessness. Conclusions: The findings underscore the relationship between specific indicators of adversity in childhood and risk of homelessness and point to the importance of early intervention efforts. Consistent with the extant research literature, mental health problems also appear to be associated with homelessness, highlighting the potentially complex service needs of this population.

Sun DL; Chen ZJ; Ma N; Zhang XC; Fu XM; Zhang DR. Decision-making and prepotent response inhibition functions in excessive internet users. CNS Spectrums 14(2): 75-81, 2009. (40 refs.)

Introduction: Excessive Internet use (EIU), also described as Internet addiction or pathological Internet use, has already become a serious social problem around the world. Some researchers consider EIU as a kind of behavioral addiction. However, there are few experimental studies on the cognitive functions of excessive Internet users (ElUers) and limited data are available to compare EIU with other addictive behaviors, such as drug abuse and pathological gambling. Methods: In this study, we examined ElUers' functions of decision-making and prepotent response inhibition. Two groups of participants, ElUers and controls, were compared on these two functions by using a Gambling Task and a Go/no-go Task, respectively. Results: Compared with controls, ElUers selected significantly less net. decks in the Gambling Task (P=.007). Furthermore, the ElUers made progress in selecting strategy, but more slowly than did the control group (ElUers, chunk 3 > chunk 1, P<.001; controls, chunk 2 > chunk 1, P<.001). Interestingly, ElUers' accuracy during the no-go condition was significantly higher than that of controls (P=.018). Conclusion: These results showed some similarities and dissimilarities between ElU and other addictive behaviors such as drug abuse and pathological gambling. The findings from the Gambling Task indicated that ElUers have deficits in decision-making function, which are characterized by a strategy learning lag rather than an inability to learn from task contingencies. ElUers' better performance in the Go/no-go Task suggested some dissociation between mechanisms of decision-making and those of prepotent response inhibition. However, ElUers could hardly suppress their excessive online behaviors in real life. Their ability of inhibition,still needs to be further studied with more specific assessments.

Toneatto T; Brands B; Selby P. A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial of naltrexone in the treatment of concurrent alcohol use disorder and pathological gambling. American Journal on Addictions 18(3): 219-225, 2009. (26 refs.)

The efficacy of naltrexone as a treatment for concurrent alcohol abuse or dependence and pathological gambling was evaluated in a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial. Fifty-two, mostly male, subjects were recruited from the community and received 11 weeks of medication during which cognitive-behavioral counseling was also provided. No significant group differences were found on any alcohol or gambling variable (ie, frequency, quantity, expenditures) at post-treatment or at the one year follow-up. However, a strong time effect was found suggesting that treatment, in general, was effective. The use of naltrexone to treat concurrent alcohol use and gambling problems was not supported.