title: Refining prevalence estimates of pathological gambling.
abstract: Pathological gambling was officially defined as a psychiatric illness by APA in 1980. The authors report on the results of a state-wide study in New York that indicated significant differences between problem gamblers in the general population and pathological gamblers entering publicly funded treatment programs. These results, based on telephone interviews using standardized assessment instruments with 1,000 persons, raise serious clinical and programmatic issues regarding the development and organization of appropriate services for pathological gamblers. They also point to the fact that large segments of the general population are not receiving needed services.
authors.affiliation: Bureau of Survey and Evaluation Research, New York State Office of Mental Health, Albany.
authors.forename: R A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Volberg
authors.forename: H J
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Steadman
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003625:Data Collection; D007174:Disruptive, Impulse Control, and Conduct Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000628:therapy; D005260:Female; D005715:Gambling; D006302:Health Services Research; D006801:Humans; D007182:Income; D007406:Interview, Psychological; D008297:Male; D008913:Minority Groups; D009518:New York; D012309:Risk-Taking; D012657:Self-Help Groups; D012737:Sex Factors; D013689:Telephone