Comorbid physical and mental illnesses among pathological gamblers: Results from a population based study in Singapore.
The aim of the current study was to examine the comorbidity of pathological gambling with other mental and physical disorders as well as to examine health related quality of life perceived by those with pathological gambling using data from a community survey in Singapore. All respondents were administered the South Oaks Gambling Screen to screen for pathological gambling. The diagnosis of mental disorders was established using the Composite International Diagnostic Interview; while chronic physical conditions were established using a checklist. The weighted lifetime prevalence of pathological gambling was 2.7%. After multiple logistic regression, age 18-34 years (OR=5.3, 95% CI=1.6-17.4), male gender (OR=7.8, CI=3.8-16.2), widowhood (OR=4.2, 95% CI=1.02-17.5), and those with pre-primary (OR=17.1, CI=4.9-59.1), primary (OR=5.3, CI=1.7-16.6), and secondary education (OR=6, CI=2.5-14.7) had significantly higher odds of having pathological gambling. Those of Malay (OR=0.1, 95% CI=0.07-0.2) and Indian ethnicity (OR=0.2, 95% CI=0.1-0.3) had significantly lower odds of having pathological gambling compared to those of Chinese ethnicity. Pathological gamblers had significantly higher odds of having comorbid mental and physical disorders than non-gamblers/non-problem gamblers. The significant association of comorbid mental and physical disorders among those with pathological gambling indicates a need to screen for these disorders and for their subsequent treatment.
Research Division, Institute of Mental Health, Singapore. Electronic address: mythily@imh.com.sg.
Mythily
M
Subramaniam
Research Division, Institute of Mental Health, Singapore.
Edimansyah
E
Abdin
Research Division, Institute of Mental Health, Singapore.
Janhavi Ajit
JA
Vaingankar
National Addiction Management Service, Institute of Mental Health, Singapore.
Kim Eng
KE
Wong
Research Division, Institute of Mental Health, Singapore.
Siow Ann
SA
Chong
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D015897:Comorbidity; D004522:Educational Status; D005260:Female; D005715:Gambling / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000208:ethnology; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence; D011788:Quality of Life; D012737:Sex Factors; D012846:Singapore / Q000453:epidemiology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D017805:Widowhood; D055815:Young Adult
Comorbidity; Health related quality of life Singapore; Pathological gambling; Survey