Factors related to the dual condition of gambling and gaming disorders: A path analysis model

Understanding the Emergence of Comorbidity between Problematic Online Gaming and Gambling: A Network Analysis Approach

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES

Problematic online gaming and gambling tend to co-occur. The exact mechanisms underlying this phenomenon and the potential effects of gender differences remain unknown. This study aimed to identify the early clustering patterns of problematic online gaming and gambling in a community sample of young adults without a lifetime history of psychiatric treatment.

METHODS

Data were collected through an online survey and analyzed using partial correlations and Bayesian networks.

RESULTS

Altogether, 1441 individuals (aged 18-40 years, 51.4% females) participated in the survey. Both problematic online behaviors were weakly interrelated, suggesting that they serve as distinct constructs. Men's networks appeared to be more complex and had significantly higher global connectivity. Moreover, men and women differed with respect to the specific nodes that bridged both constructs. In men, the bridge nodes were "being criticized because of betting or being told about gambling problems", "loss of previous interests due to gaming", "deceiving other people because of gaming", and "health consequences of gambling". Among women, the bridge nodes were "feeling guilty because of gambling", "loss of previous interests because of gaming", "social consequences of gaming", and "continued gaming problems with other people". In men, the strongest edge was found between "borrowing money/selling anything to gamble" and "financial problems because of gambling", while in women, the strongest edge appeared between "betting more than afforded to be lost" and "tolerance symptoms of gambling".

CONCLUSIONS

The findings indicate that problematic online gaming and gambling tend to emerge in different ways among men and women. Therapeutic interventions should be planned considering gender differences.

Understanding the Co-occurrence of Gambling Disorder and Problematic Pornography Use: Exploring Sociodemographic and Clinical Factors

The co-occurrence between gambling disorder (GD) and problematic pornography use (PPU) has not yet been explored. Therefore, the present study compared (a) sociodemographic variables, (b) GD-related factors, (c) substance use, (d) psychopathology, (e) personality features, (f) impulsivity, and (g) emotion regulation between individuals with GD (GD group) and those with co-occurring GD and PPU (GD+PPU group). The sample consisted of 359 treatment-seeking individuals with GD: n = 332 individuals had GD only (GD group) and n = 37 individuals had GD and co-occurring PPU (GD+PPU group). GD severity, impulsivity, psychopathology, personality, emotion regulation, and other sociodemographic and clinical variables were assessed. No between-group differences in sociodemographic measures were observed. The GD+PPU group demonstrated greater GD severity and a higher likelihood of substance use compared to those without PPU. Furthermore, the presence of PPU was associated with worse psychopathology, higher impulsivity (except for lack of premeditation and positive urgency), more difficulties in emotion regulation (except for non-acceptance of emotions and limited access to emotions), and a personality profile characterized by lower levels of self-directedness and cooperativeness. The co-occurrence of GD and PPU seems associated with a more dysfunctional clinical profile.

Is there such a thing as gambling dual disorder? Preliminary evidence and clinical profiles

Patients with gambling disorder (GD) frequently present other mental disorders, such as substance use disorder (SUDs), attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), mood disorders, and impulse-control disorders. We propose that GD should not be conceptualized as a single nosological entity, but rather as a gambling dual disorder (GDD). This study aims to provide further evidence of the co-occurrence of GD and other mental disorders in routine clinical practice and to identify different clinical profiles of severity. This descriptive, cross-sectional, and observational study included 116 patients with GD who were undergoing treatment in a specialized center. The MULTICAGE-CAD 4 and South Oaks gambling screen questionnaires confirmed the presence of GD in 97.4% and 100% of the patients, respectively. Other addictive behaviors such as compulsive spending, Internet, video games, or SUD (59.5%, 27.6%, 11.2%, and 13.8%, respectively) were also identified. The most used substances were tobacco (42.2%) and alcohol (5.2%). Half of the patients suffered from ADHD, 30.2% showed moderate or severe depression, and 17.2% suffered from a social anxiety problem. The majority (76.7%) also presented a phenotype with high impulsiveness. The cluster analysis identified two different clinical profiles of severity in patients with GDD. One profile showed higher severity of other mental disorders (ADHD, depression, anxiety, SUD, or insomnia), impulsivity, general psychopathological burden, and disability. In conclusion, our study provides further evidence on the co-occurrence of GD and other mental disorders supporting the GDD existence, shows impulsiveness as a vulnerability factor for GD, and identifies two clinical severity profiles.