Prevalence and epidemiology of pathological gambling at Naval Medical Center Portsmouth psychiatry clinic

Prevalence and epidemiology of pathological gambling at Naval Medical Center Portsmouth psychiatry clinic

Gambling has exploded in popularity, but pathological gambling (PG) is infrequently diagnosed. The objectives of this study were to calculate the prevalence of PG in a psychiatry clinic, to determine whether PG is underdiagnosed, and to analyze risk factors for PG. A survey was completed by 584 outp...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Military medicine Vol. 172; no. 7; pp. 782 - 786
Main Authors: Weis, Daniel R, Manos, Gail H
Format: Journal Article
Language:English
Published: England Oxford University Press 01-07-2007
Subjects:
Adolescent
Adult
Alcohol use
Casinos
Comorbidity
Epidemiology
Female
Gambling - psychology
Health Surveys
Hospitals, Military
Humans
Independent variables
Legalized gambling
Lifetime
Male
Middle Aged
Military Personnel
Military Psychiatry
Patients
Prevalence
Psychiatry
Questionnaires
Risk Assessment
Risk Factors
Smoking
Statistical significance
Surveys and Questionnaires
United States - epidemiology
United States
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Summary:Gambling has exploded in popularity, but pathological gambling (PG) is infrequently diagnosed. The objectives of this study were to calculate the prevalence of PG in a psychiatry clinic, to determine whether PG is underdiagnosed, and to analyze risk factors for PG. A survey was completed by 584 outpatients presenting to the Naval Medical Center Portsmouth psychiatry clinic over 6 months. Epidemiological data, smoking status, and alcohol use were assessed, and the South Oaks Gambling Screen was administered. The prevalence of PG determined with the South Oaks Gambling Screen was 1.4%. The electronically documented prevalence of PG was 0.04%. Male subjects, smokers, and subjects with an alcohol problem were more likely to have a gambling problem. Active duty members did not have statistically significantly higher rates of PG. PG is markedly underdiagnosed. Military members are not at elevated risk for PG, relative to their dependents. Further research and greater awareness of PG are needed.
Bibliography:ObjectType-Article-1
SourceType-Scholarly Journals-1
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ISSN:0026-4075
1930-613X
DOI:10.7205/MILMED.172.7.782