Pathological gamblers: inpatients' versus outpatients' characteristics.
Several researchers and clinicians have questioned the advantages and disadvantages of inpatient and outpatient treatment for people suffering from pathological gambling. This study compares the characteristics of pathological gamblers seeking inpatient and outpatient treatment. A total of 233 pathological gamblers (inpatients = 134, outpatients = 99) participated in the study. Results show that inpatients have more severe gambling problems than those receiving outpatient services. Similar results were obtained on most other related variables such as anxiety, depression, alcohol consumption, and comorbidity. These results are discussed in terms of the costs and benefits of these two treatment modalities.
Ladouceur
Robert
R
School of Psychology, Laval University, G1K 7P4, Quebec, QC, Canada. robert.ladouceur@psy.ulaval.ca
Sylvain
Caroline
C
Sévigny
Serge
S
Poirier
Lynda
L
Brisson
Laurent
L
Dias
Carlos
C
Dufour
Claudie
C
Pilote
Pierrette
P
D000328:Adult; D000428:Alcohol Drinking / Q000453:epidemiology; D001007:Anxiety / Q000453:epidemiology; D016739:Behavior, Addictive / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000628:therapy*; D015897:Comorbidity; D003863:Depression / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D005715:Gambling / Q000523:psychology*; D006801:Humans; D007297:Inpatients / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010045:Outpatients / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care; D011792:Quebec; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D016896:Treatment Outcome