title: A prospective study of problem and regular nonproblem gamblers living in the community.
abstract: Little is known about the life course of gambling problems and there have been no prospective studies of problem gambling. This article describes a study of 77 problem gamblers and 66 nonproblem gamblers recruited from a national prevalence survey in New Zealand in 1991 and reassessed in 1998. While most 1991 problem gamblers were nonproblematic at follow-up, a significant minority had developed more serious problems. Multiple logistic regression analysis identified more severe gambling problems, hazardous drinking, and a preference for track betting as the strongest independent predictors of subsequent problem gambling. These findings contradict conventional notions that pathological gambling is invariably a chronic or chronically relapsing disorder. The findings have implications for the interpretation of previous research, conduct of future research, and problem gambling policy and treatment.
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Health, Auckland University of Technology, Northcote, Auckland, New Zealand. max.abbott@aut.ac.nz
authors.forename: Max W
authors.initials: MW
authors.lastname: Abbott
authors.forename: Maynard M
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Williams
authors.forename: Rachel A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Volberg
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000428:Alcohol Drinking; D000437:Alcoholism; D005006:Ethnicity; D005260:Female; D005715:Gambling / Q000523:psychology*; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009520:New Zealand / Q000453:epidemiology; D015995:Prevalence; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012008:Recurrence