title: Association of sociodemographic, psychopathological and gambling-related factors with treatment utilization for pathological gambling.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Only a small percentage of pathological gamblers utilizes professional treatment for gambling problems. Little is known about which social and gambling-related factors are associated with treatment utilization. The aim of this study was to look for factors associated with treatment utilization for pathological gambling.
  
  
  METHODS
  The study followed a sampling design with 3 different recruitment channels, namely (1) a general population-based telephone sample, (2) a gambling location sample and (3) a project telephone hotline. Pathological gambling was diagnosed in a telephone interview. Participants with pathological gambling (n=395) received an in-depth clinical interview concerning treatment utilization, comorbid psychiatric disorders and social characteristics.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Variables associated with treatment were higher age [odds ratio (OR) 1.05, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.03-1.08], an increased number of DSM-IV criteria for pathological gambling (OR 1.34, 95% CI 1.06-1.70), more adverse consequences from gambling (OR 1.10, 95% CI 1.03-1.16) and more social pressure from significant others (OR 1.17, 95% CI 1.07-1.27). Affective disorders were associated with treatment utilization in the univariate analysis (OR 1.81, 95% CI 1.19-2.73), but multivariate analysis showed that comorbid psychiatric disorders were not independently associated.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These results indicate that individuals with more severe gambling problems utilize treatment at an older age when more adverse consequences have occurred. Further research should focus on proactive early interventions.
authors.affiliation: Research Group Substance Abuse and Related Disorders: Treatment, Epidemiology and Prevention, Center for Integrative Psychiatry, Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University of Lübeck, Lübeck, Germany.
authors.forename: Anja
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bischof
authors.forename: Christian
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Meyer
authors.forename: Gallus
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Bischof
authors.forename: Diana
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Guertler
authors.forename: Nadin
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Kastirke
authors.forename: Ulrich
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: John
authors.forename: Hans-Juergen
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Rumpf
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000437:Alcoholism / Q000453:epidemiology; D001008:Anxiety Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology; D015331:Cohort Studies; D015897:Comorbidity; D003376:Counseling / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005260:Female; D005715:Gambling / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy*; D015277:Hotlines / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D007398:Interpersonal Relations; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008605:Mental Health Services / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D008875:Middle Aged; D019964:Mood Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D016017:Odds Ratio; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D010554:Personality Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology; D012657:Self-Help Groups / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012720:Severity of Illness Index