title: Gender differences in pathological gambling.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  To determine the differences in clinical presentation, gambling behavior, and psychiatric comorbidity of male and female treatment-seeking pathological gamblers.
  
  
  METHODS
  Sixty-nine consecutive individuals with DSM-IV pathological gambling (47 men and 22 women) applying to a specialized out-patient treatment program were evaluated with structured interviews, self-report questionnaires, and psychological scales.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Sixty-seven percent of men (N = 26) versus 25% of women (N = 5) had been exposed to gambling in adolescence. Women had a later age at first bet and a faster evolution of the disorder. Female pathological gamblers were more likely to play bingo, whereas men tended to prefer slot machines. Male and female pathological gamblers had similar gambling severity and overall rates of psychiatric comorbidity. However, male pathological gamblers had higher rates of alcohol abuse/dependence and antisocial personality disorder, whereas women had higher rates of affective disorders and history of physical abuse.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  There are substantial gender differences in the clinical presentation and comorbidity of pathological gambling. These gender differences should be incorporated in the selection and planning of treatment for pathological gamblers.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, Ramón y Cajal Hospital/Alcalá University, Madrid, Spain. aic@tiscali.es
authors.forename: Angela
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ibáñez
authors.forename: Carlos
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Blanco
authors.forename: Paula
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Moreryra
authors.forename: Jerónimo
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Sáiz-Ruiz
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D017668:Age of Onset; D000987:Antisocial Personality Disorder / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology; D015897:Comorbidity; D007174:Disruptive, Impulse Control, and Conduct Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D005715:Gambling / Q000523:psychology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology; D009042:Motivation; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care / Q000523:psychology; D010552:Personality Assessment; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D012737:Sex Factors; D013405:Suicide / Q000523:psychology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires