Clinical Differences of mild, Moderate, and Severe Gambling Disorder in a Sample of Treatment Seeking Pathological Gamblers in Sweden

INTRODUCTION

Gambling disorder (GD) is classified among the addictive disorders in the DSM-5 and the severity of the diagnosis can be specified as mild, moderate and severe. It has been seen that individuals with more severe gambling problems have a higher rate of comorbid disorders and other health problems compared to individuals with a milder clinical picture.

AIMS

The aim of this study was to explore clinical psychiatric differences related to the severity of disorder in treatment-seeking patients with GD.

METHOD

A sample of 163 patients with GD seeking treatment at an outpatient clinic was diagnosed using the SCI-GD, screened for comorbid diagnoses using the MINI, and further completed a range of self-report questionnaires measuring alcohol-, and drug-problems, symptoms of depression and anxiety, emotion regulation, cognitive distortions, and quality of life.

RESULTS

Greater severity was associated to more problems with alcohol and illicit drugs. Severe gamblers were more likely to gamble to "escape", and had more symptoms of depression and anxiety. Participants with moderate and severe gambling disorder had more difficulties with emotion regulation. Cognitive distortions were the same between severities. All groups had Quality-of-Life problems at a clinical level.

DISCUSSION

There are some distinctive differences between GD of different severities. The features shown by patients with severe GD indicates a more emotionally vulnerable group with increased symptom severity. Further knowledge about the features of GD severity levels is important for treatment planning in the clinic.

Separating problem gambling behaviors and negative consequences: Examining the factor structure of the PGSI

There is some uncertainty on how to best conceptualise and measure problem gambling and debate as to whether it is helpful to differentiate the behavioral features of problematic gambling from the negative consequences of gambling. The current study explores this issue by examining the factor structure of a commonly-used problem gambling measure, the Problem Gambling Severity Index (PGSI), as administered to respondents in the 2018 Northern Territory Gambling Prevalence and Wellbeing Survey (n = 3,740 gamblers). Confirmatory factor analyses revealed a two-factor solution offered significant improvement in fit over the one-factor model. Further, the two factors explained unique variance in the number of gambling-related harms experienced by respondents. Although the two factors were highly correlated, the current findings indicate problem gambling behaviors are related to the negative consequences of gambling, but these are not necessarily synonymous. This suggests isolating behavioral and consequential elements of gambling may have utility in public health interventions for gambling that, while concerning, falls below a clinically-significant threshold. Similarly, clinically-oriented research may benefit by measuring the behavioral features, as these components are important targets for individual-level interventions.

Where to put Compulsive Sexual Behavior Disorder (CSBD)? Phenomenology matters •

In this commentary paper, it is discussed if Compulsive Sexual Behavior Disorder (CSBD) is best categorized as an Impulse Control Disorder, an Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder or in light of the overlap of characteristics with both Gaming and Gambling Disorder as an addictive behavior. The overlapping features are: loss of control over the respective excessive behavior, giving increasing priority to the excessive behavior under investigation and upholding such a behavior despite negative consequences. Besides empirical evidence regarding underlying mechanisms, phenomenology also plays an important role to correctly classify CSBD. The phenomenological aspects of CSBD clearly speak in favor of classifying CSBD under the umbrella of addictive behaviors.

Gray Matter Volume Differences in Impulse Control and Addictive Disorders-An Evidence From a Sample of Heterosexual Males

BACKGROUNDS

The classification of addictions and impulse control disorders is changing as reflected in the 11th version of International Classification of Disorders (WHO, 2018). However, studies focusing on direct comparison of structural brain differences in behavioral and substance addictions are limited.

AIM

Here, we contrast gray matter volumes (GMVs) across groups of individuals with compulsive sexual behavior disorder (CSBD), gambling disorder (GD), and alcohol use disorder (AUD) with those with none of these disorders (healthy controls participants; HCs).

METHODS

Voxel-based morphometry was used to study brain structure, and severities of addiction symptoms were assessed with questionnaires. To identify brain regions related to severities of addictions, correlations between questionnaire scores and GMVs were computed.

MAIN OUTCOME

We collected magnetic resonance imaging (GMVs) data from 26 patients with CSBD, 26 patients with GD, 21 patients with AUD, and 25 HC participants (all heterosexual males; age: 24-60; mean = 34.5, standard deviation = 6.48).

RESULTS

Affected individuals (CSBD, GD, AUD) compared with HC participants showed smaller GMVs in the left frontal pole, specifically in the orbitofrontal cortex. The most pronounced differences were observed in the GD and AUD groups, and the least in the CSBD group. In addition, a negative correlation was found between GMVs and disorder severity in the CSBD group. Higher severity of CSBD symptoms was correlated with decreased GMVs in the right anterior cingulate gyrus.

CLINICAL IMPLICATIONS

Our findings suggest similarities between CSBD and addictions.

STRENGHS AND LIMITIATIONS

This study is the first showing smaller GMVs in 3 clinical groups of CSBD, GD, and AUD. But the study was limited only to heterosexual men. Longitudinal studies should examine the extent to which ventral prefrontal decrements in volume may represent preexisting vulnerability factors or whether they may develop with disorder progression.

CONCLUSIONS

Our research extends prior findings in substance use disorders of lower GMVs in prefrontal cortical volumes among 3 clinical groups of patients with specific impulse control (CSBD) and behavioral (GD) and substance (AUD) addictive disorders. The negative correlation between CSBD symptoms and GMV of right anterior cingulate gyrus suggests a link with clinical symptomatology. Draps M, Sescousse G, Potenza MN, et al. Gray Matter Volume Differences in Impulse Control and Addictive Disorders-An Evidence From a Sample of Heterosexual Males. J Sex Med 2020;17:1761-1769.

Predicting Gambling Situations: The Roles of Impulsivity, Substance Use, and Post-Traumatic Stress

Gambling disorder and symptoms of post-traumatic stress are highly comorbid. Numerous studies suggest that the presence of one (either disordered gambling or post-traumatic stress) substantially increases the odds of later developing the other. However, little is known about the etiological links between these two domains or the nuances of the comorbidity. Past research has suggested that symptoms of post-traumatic stress might be related to unique motivations for and beliefs about gambling. The present work sought to examine whether or not symptoms of post-traumatic stress might also be related to specific situational vulnerabilities to gambling behaviors. Using a large cross-sectional sample of Internet-using adults in the United States who were primarily recreational gamblers (N = 743; 46% men, M_age = 36.0, SD = 11.1), as well as an inpatient sample of US Armed Forces veterans seeking treatment for gambling disorder (N = 332, 80% men, M_age = 53.5, SD = 11.5), the present work tested whether or not symptoms of post-traumatic stress were uniquely related to a variety of gambling situations. Results in both samples revealed that even when controlling for potentially confounding variables (eg, substance use and trait impulsivity), symptoms of post-traumatic stress were uniquely related to gambling in response to negative affect, gambling in response to social pressure, and gambling due to a need for excitement. These findings are consistent with recent work suggesting that individuals with post-traumatic stress symptoms are more likely to engage in gambling behaviors for unique reasons that differ from gamblers without such symptoms.

Psychopathology of addiction: Can the SCL90-based five-dimensional structure differentiate Heroin Use Disorder from a non-substance-related addictive disorder such as Gambling Disorder?

BACKGROUND

In the Gambling Disorder (GD), there is no exogenous drug administration that acts as the central core of the traditional meaning of addiction. A specific psychopathology of Substance Use Disorders has been proposed recently. In a sample of Heroin Use Disorder (HUD) patients entering opioid agonist treatment, it became possible to identify a group of 5 mutually exclusive psychiatric dimensions: Worthlessness-Being trapped (W-BT), Somatic Symptoms (SS), Sensitivity-Psychoticism (SP), Panic Anxiety (PA) and Violence-Suicide (VS). The specificity of these dimensions was suggested by the absence of their correlations with treatment choice, active substance use, psychiatric comorbidity and the principal substance of abuse and by the opportunity, through their use, of fully discriminating HUD from Major Depression patients and, partially, from obese non-psychiatric patients. To further support this specificity in the present study, we tested the feasibility of discriminating HUD patients from those affected by a non-substance-related addictive behaviour, such as GD. In this way, we also investigated the psychopathological peculiarities of GD patients.

METHODS

We compared the severity and frequency of each of the five aspects found by us, in 972 (83.5% males; mean age 30.12 ± 6.6) HUD and 110 (50% males; average age 30.12 ± 6.6) GD patients at univariate (T test; Chi square) and multivariate (discriminant analysis and logistic regression) level.

RESULTS

HUD patients showed higher general psychopathology indexes than GD patients. The severity of all five psychopathological dimensions was significantly greater in HUD patients. Discriminant analysis revealed that SS and VS severity were able to discriminate between HUD (higher severity) and GD patients (lower severity), whereas PA and SP could not. W-BT severity was negatively correlated with SS and VS; GD patients were distinguished by low scores for SS and VS low scores associated with high ones for W-BT. Psychopathological subtypes characterized by SS and VS symptomatology were better represented in HUD patients, whereas PA symptomatology was more frequent in GD individuals. No differences were observed regarding the W-BT and SP dimensions. At multivariate level, the one prominent characteristic of HUD patients was the presence of SS (OR = 5.43) as a prominent qualification for psychopathological status.

CONCLUSIONS

Apart from the lower severity of all psychopathological dimensions, only the lower frequency of SS typology seems to be the prominent factor in GD patients. The SCL90-defined structure of opioid addiction seems to be useful even in non-substance-related addictive disorders, as in the case of GD patients, further supporting the possible existence of a psychopathology specific to addiction.

GAMBLINGLESS: FOR LIFE study protocol: a pragmatic randomised trial of an online cognitive-behavioural programme for disordered gambling

INTRODUCTION

The prevalence of disordered gambling worldwide has been estimated at 2.3%. Only a small minority of disordered gamblers seek specialist face-to-face treatment, and so a need for alternative treatment delivery models that capitalise on advances in communication technology, and use self-directed activity that can complement existing services has been identified. As such, the primary aim of this study is to evaluate an online self-directed cognitive-behavioural programme for disordered gambling (GamblingLess: For Life).

METHODS AND ANALYSIS

The study will be a 2-arm, parallel group, pragmatic randomised trial. Participants will be randomly allocated to a pure self-directed (PSD) or guided self-directed (GSD) intervention. Participants in both groups will be asked to work through the 4 modules of the GamblingLess programme over 8 weeks. Participants in the GSD intervention will also receive weekly emails of guidance and support from a gambling counsellor. A total of 200 participants will be recruited. Participants will be eligible if they reside in Australia, are aged 18 years and over, have access to the internet, have adequate knowledge of the English language, are seeking help for their own gambling problems and are willing to take part in the intervention and associated assessments. Assessments will be conducted at preintervention, and at 2, 3 and 12 months from preintervention. The primary outcome is gambling severity, assessed using the Gambling Symptom Assessment Scale. Secondary outcomes include gambling frequency, gambling expenditure, psychological distress, quality of life and additional help-seeking. Qualitative interviews will also be conducted with a subsample of participants and the Guides (counsellors).

ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION

The study has been approved by the Deakin University Human Research and Eastern Health Human Research Ethics Committees. Findings will be disseminated via report, peer-reviewed publications and conference presentations.

TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER

ACTRN12615000864527; results.

Is Sensation Seeking a correlate of excessive behaviors and behavioral addictions? A detailed examination of patients with Gambling Disorder and Internet Addiction

Sensation Seeking has repeatedly been related to substance use. Also, its role as a correlate of Gambling Disorder has been discussed although research has led to heterogeneous results. Likewise, first studies on Internet Addiction have indicated increased Sensation Seeking, to some extent contradicting clinical impression of patients suffering from internet addiction. We assessed Sensation Seeking in a clinical sample of n=251 patients with Gambling Disorder, n=243 patients with internet addiction, n=103 clients with excessive but not addictive internet use, and n=142 healthy controls. The clinical groups were further sub-divided according to the preferred type of addictive behavior (slot-machine gambling vs. high arousal gambling activities and internet gaming disorder vs. other internet-related addictive behaviors). Decreased scores in some subscales of Sensation Seeking were found among male patients compared to healthy controls with no differences between patients with Gambling Disorder and Internet Addiction. The type of preferred gambling or online activity was not related to differences in Sensation Seeking. Previous findings indicating only small associations between Sensation Seeking and Gambling Disorder were confirmed. Regarding Internet Addiction our results contradict findings from non-clinical samples. Sensation Seeking might be relevant in initiating contact to the health care system.