The influence of substance dependence and mood disorders on outcome from pathological gambling: five-year follow-up.
A prospective study of the role of comorbid substance abuse and dependence and mood disorders in the outcome from pathological gambling. A naturalistic sample of pathological gamblers who had recently quit gambling (N = 101) was followed and data were available for 83% of participants at 3 months, 80% at 12 months, and 52% at 5 years. Those participants with a drug diagnosis during their lifetime were less likely to have a minimum 3 month period of abstinence, and those who had been involved in gambling treatment were more likely to have a minimum 12 months of continuous abstinence. Lifetime gambling problem severity and involvement in gambling treatment were most commonly associated with a shorter time to achieving a period of abstinence of any length. Lifetime history of a mood disorder also predicted a longer time to reach a minimum 3 months of continuous abstinence. Both gambling treatment and an alcohol diagnosis follow up predicted an increase in the odds of experiencing a relapse from a minimum 6 month period of abstinence. Overall, comorbid mental health disorders are predictive of shorter term but not longer term outcome.
Hodgins
David C
DC
Department of Psychology, University of Calgary, 2500 University Drive NW, Calgary, AB, T2N 1N4, Canada. dhodgins@ucalgary.ca
el-Guebaly
Nady
N
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D019973:Alcohol-Related Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology; D001008:Anxiety Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology; D016739:Behavior, Addictive / Q000453:epidemiology*; D015897:Comorbidity; D007174:Disruptive, Impulse Control, and Conduct Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005715:Gambling / Q000523:psychology; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D019964:Mood Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D055502:Secondary Prevention; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D012931:Social Environment; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology*