title: Comorbidity issues in the pharmacological treatment of Pathological Gambling: a critical review.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Pathological Gambling (PG) is an impulse control disorder often comorbid with other psychopathology, particularly bipolar spectrum disorders, attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) and substance abuse. This paper reviews the published literature on the pharmacological management of PG, highlighting how clinical and subclinical comorbid psychopathology influences the choice of pharmacological treatment.
  
  
  METHODS
  Using Medline, the authors reviewed relevant articles published on this topic from 1995 to 2005, focusing on the best-designed studies for inclusion.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Much of the literature on PG-treatment presupposes different theories regarding this disorder. Data suggest the utility of differentiating the pharmacotherapy of pathological gamblers in light of their comorbid profile, specifically assessing for comorbid bipolar, ADHD, OCD, and substance abuse disorders.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Decisions about pharmacological treatment of PG should take into account current and previous comorbid disorders which influence treatment selection.
authors.affiliation: Compulsive, Impulsive and Anxiety Disorders Program, Department of Psychiatry, Mount Sinai School of Medicine, New York, NY 10029, USA. bernardo.dellosso@mssm.edu
authors.forename: Bernardo
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Dell'Osso
authors.forename: Andrea
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Allen
authors.forename: Eric
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Hollander