title: Estimated verbal IQ and the odds of problem gambling: a population-based study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The neurocognitive deficits and other correlates of problem gambling are also observable in individuals with lower cognitive abilities, suggesting that a low IQ may be a determinant of problem gambling. There has been very little research into this possibility. This study aimed to investigate the characteristics associated with problem gambling in a large population-based study in England, with a particular focus on IQ.
  
  
  METHODS
  The Adult Psychiatric Morbidity Survey (APMS) 2007 comprised detailed interviews with 7403 individuals living in private households in England. Problem gambling was ascertained using a questionnaire based on DSM-IV criteria. Verbal IQ was estimated using the National Adult Reading Test (NART). Confounders included socio-economic and demographic factors, common mental disorders, impulsivity, smoking, and hazardous drug and alcohol use.
  
  
  RESULTS
  More than two-thirds of the population reported engaging in some form of gambling in the previous year, but problem gambling was rare [prevalence 0.7%, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.5-1.0]. The odds of problem gambling doubled with each standard deviation drop in estimated verbal IQ [adjusted odds ratio (OR) 2.1, 95% CI 1.3-3.4, p = 0.003], after adjusting for other characteristics associated with problem gambling including age, sex, socio-economic factors, drug and alcohol dependence, smoking, impulsivity and common mental disorders. There was no strong relationship observed between IQ and non-problem gambling.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  People with lower IQs may be at a higher risk of problem gambling. Further work is required to replicate and study the mechanisms behind these findings, and may aid the understanding of problem gambling and inform preventative measures and interventions.
authors.affiliation: Centre for Mental Health, Addiction and Suicide Research, School of Social and Community Medicine, University of Bristol, UK.
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Rai
authors.affiliation: UQ Centre for Clinical Research, The University of Queensland, Royal Brisbane and Women's Hospital, Queensland, Australia.
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Hall
authors.affiliation: UCL Mental Health Sciences Unit, London, UK.
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Bebbington
authors.affiliation: Centre for Mental Health, Addiction and Suicide Research, School of Social and Community Medicine, University of Bristol, UK.
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Skapinakis
authors.affiliation: UCL Mental Health Sciences Unit, London, UK.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Hassiotis
authors.affiliation: Division of Mental Health and Wellbeing, Warwick Medical School, University of Warwick, Coventry, UK.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Weich
authors.affiliation: Department of Health Sciences, College of Medicine, Biological Sciences and Psychology, University of Leicester, UK.
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Meltzer
authors.affiliation: Institute of Psychiatry, King's College London, UK.
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Moran
authors.affiliation: Department of Health Sciences, College of Medicine, Biological Sciences and Psychology, University of Leicester, UK.
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Brugha
authors.affiliation: UCL Mental Health Sciences Unit, London, UK.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Strydom
authors.affiliation: National Drug and Alcohol Research Centre, University of New South Wales, Australia.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Farrell
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D004739:England / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D005715:Gambling / Q000453:epidemiology*; D006801:Humans; D007360:Intelligence / Q000502:physiology*; D008297:Male; D012306:Risk