Gamblers seeking treatment: Who does and who doesn't?

Abstract

Background and aims: As only a minority of pathological gamblers (PGr) presents for treatment, further knowledge about help-seeking behavior is required in order to enhance treatment utilization. The present study investigated factors associated with treatment participation in gamblers in Germany. As subclinical pathological gamblers (SPGr, fulfilling one to four DSM-IV-criteria) are target of early intervention due to high risk of transition to pathological gambling, they were subject of special interest. Methods: The study analyzed data from a general population survey (n = 234, SPGr: n = 198, PGr: n = 36) and a treatment study (n = 329, SPGr: n = 22, PGr: n = 307). A two-step weighting procedure was applied to ensure comparability of samples. Investigated factors included socio-demographic variables, gambling behavior, symptoms of pathological gambling and substance use. Results: In PGr, regular employment and non-German nationality were positively associated with being in treatment while gambling on the Internet and gaming machines and fulfilling more DSM-IV-criteria lowered the odds. In SPGr, treatment attendance was negatively associated with married status and alcohol consumption and positively associated with older age, higher stakes, more fulfilled DSM-IV criteria and regular smoking. Conclusions: In accordance to expectations more severe gambling problems and higher problem awareness and/or external pressure might facilitate treatment entry. There are groups with lower chances of being in treatment: women, ethnic minorities, and SPGr. We propose target group specific offers, use of Internet-based methods as possible adaptions and/or extensions of treatment offers that could enhance treatment attendance.

Gender differences in gambling preferences and problem gambling: a network-level analysis

“…Studies in large samples of problem gamblers and individuals at risk for problem gambling should be conducted to replicate or refute present findings. However, data from community-based samples are still needed, because clinical samples are non-representative of the whole population of problem gamblers, with only a minority of problem gamblers seeking treatment (Braun, Ludwig, Sleczka, Bühringer, & Kraus, 2014). In addition, it is worth noting that our findings applied to the jurisdictional regime of France and results may have been different in other regimes where gambling machines are more available (e.g., Australia).…”

Gender Differences in Treatment-Seeking British Pathological Gamblers

“…There were mixed findings as to how marital status influences the odds of attending treatment (Braun et al., 2014; Granero et al., 2009; Weinstock, Burton, & Rash, 2011), with one similar study finding that female gamblers were more likely to be divorced/widowed (Echeburúa et al., 2011). These results might be partially explained by the fact that, as shown by Evans and Delfabbro (2005), the primary motivations of help seeking among problem gamblers were crisis driven, and therefore the loss of a relationship, or a job, would be a motivator for seeking professional help.…”

<p>The General Population’s View on Where to Seek Treatment for Gambling Disorder – a General Population Survey</p>

“…26 Age and gender have been reported to correlate with treatment seeking, where treatment seekers have been reported to be older and less likely to be female. 27,28 In addition, amounts of gambling-related debts and financial difficulties have been reported to predict treatment attendance, as greater gambling debt and gambling-related financial difficulties have been reported to be positively related to treatment initiation. 27,29 Additionally, alcohol use has been reported to be negatively associated with treatment seeking for problem gambling.…”

“…27,29 Additionally, alcohol use has been reported to be negatively associated with treatment seeking for problem gambling. 28 The survey included a screening for problematic alcohol use, using the AUDIT-C, 30 as well as questions about a history of past-year illicit drug use. Respondents' own history of other treatment-seeking was addressed with questions about whether the individual had ever sought treatment for psychological distress and whether a physician had ever prescribed treatment (psychological or pharmaceutical) for psychological distress (i.e.…”