title: Pathological gambling in a psychiatric sample.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study determines the prevalence of gambling difficulties in a consecutive sample of psychiatric inpatients and compares it with a nonpsychiatric inpatient sample. In addition, the gambling prevalence among all psychiatric disorders is analyzed.
  
  
  METHODS
  An observational study was conducted in psychiatric patients and sex- and age-matched nonpsychiatric patients. The psychiatric group (n = 100) included all consecutive patients admitted to the psychiatric unit of our hospital. The nonpsychiatric group (n = 100) included psychiatrically healthy inpatients from any other hospital unit. The National Opinion Research Center Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fourth Edition, Screen for Gambling Problems was used to screen for gambling behavior.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Gambling difficulties were experienced by 3% (2% pathological gambling and 1% problem gambling) of nonpsychiatric inpatients and 9% (8% pathological gambling and 1% problem gambling) of psychiatric inpatients, including 6 with psychotic disorders, 1 with mood disorder, 1 with adjustment disorder, and 1 with eating disorder. There were no statistical differences in gambling prevalence between groups. In terms of comorbidity, patients with psychotic disorder had a higher prevalence of gambling problems than other psychiatric disorders (P = .045).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  A higher prevalence of gambling disorders was found in psychiatric inpatients than in nonpsychiatric inpatients. It may be advisable for therapists to routinely assess for gambling difficulties as part of the psychiatric evaluation.
authors.affiliation: Pathological Gambling Unit, Department of Mental Health, Consorci Sanitari de Terrassa, (Barcelona), Spain. naragay@cst.cat
authors.forename: Núria
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Aragay
authors.forename: Alba
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Roca
authors.forename: Berta
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Garcia
authors.forename: Cristina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Marqueta
authors.forename: Silvina
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Guijarro
authors.forename: Luís
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Delgado
authors.forename: Maite
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Garolera
authors.forename: Joan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Alberni
authors.forename: Vicenç
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Vallès
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D015897:Comorbidity; D007174:Disruptive, Impulse Control, and Conduct Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D005715:Gambling / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology; D006760:Hospitalization; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales