Taking chances: problem gamblers and mental health disorders--results from the St. Louis Epidemiologic Catchment Area Study.
OBJECTIVE
This study determined prevalence estimates of problem gambling and relationships to other psychiatric and substance use disorders.


METHODS
In 1981, the Diagnostic Interview Schedule was used to collect epidemiological information on problem gambling and other disorders from 3004 adults in St. Louis, Mo.


RESULTS
The lifetime prevalence of pathological gambling was 0.9%; 46% of those surveyed gambled recreationally. Problem gamblers (those reporting at least one gambling-related problem) were 9.2% of the sample and were predominately White (69%), male (78.2%), and young than nongamblers. They were at increased risk for several psychiatric diagnoses, especially for antisocial personality disorder, alcoholism, and tobacco dependence.


CONCLUSIONS
Clinicians treating alcoholism and tobacco dependence may need to screen for problem gambling. Additional research in the context of increased gambling opportunities is needed.
Cunningham-Williams
R M
RM
Department of Psychiatry, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63108, USA. cunning@epi.wustl.edu
Cottler
L B
LB
Compton
W M
WM
Spitznagel
E L
EL
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000987:Antisocial Personality Disorder / Q000453:epidemiology; D002391:Catchment Area, Health; D015897:Comorbidity; D005260:Female; D005715:Gambling; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D008923:Missouri / Q000453:epidemiology; D015995:Prevalence; D017678:Sex Distribution; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology