The diagnostic accuracy of brief screening instruments for problem gambling: A systematic review and meta-analysis

Dowling, Nicki A.; Merkouris, Stephanie; Dias, Sofia; Rodda, Simone; Manning, Victoria; Youssef, George; Lubman, Dan I.; Volberg, Rachel A.

doi:10.1016/j.cpr.2019.101784

Cited by 39 publications

(41 citation statements)

References 83 publications

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“…We have shown that brief two-item screening tools (such as the Lie/Bet and two-item Brief PG Screen) adequately detected PG in mental health patients in these Australian services, with diagnostic efficiency exceeding 0.90 [ 48 ]. There is also evidence from a recent meta-analysis based on international evidence that the two-item Lie/Bet and three-item Brief Biosocial Gambling Screen display satisfactory diagnostic accuracy when used in nongambling clinical settings [ 49 ]. Given the indicated importance of other screening and assessment priorities with a mental health patient population, having reliable and brief screen tools is imperative.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

An Examination of Clinician Responses to Problem Gambling in Community Mental Health Services

Manning

Dowling

Rodda

et al. 2020

JCM

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Gambling problems commonly co-occur with other mental health problems. However, screening for problem gambling (PG) rarely takes place within mental health treatment settings. The aim of the current study was to examine the way in which mental health clinicians respond to PG issues. Participants (n = 281) were recruited from a range of mental health services in Victoria, Australia. The majority of clinicians reported that at least some of their caseload was affected by gambling problems. Clinicians displayed moderate levels of knowledge about the reciprocal impact of gambling problems and mental health but had limited knowledge of screening tools to detect PG. Whilst 77% reported that they screened for PG, only 16% did so “often” or “always” and few expressed confidence in their ability to treat PG. However, only 12.5% reported receiving previous training in PG, and those that had, reported higher levels of knowledge about gambling in the context of mental illness, more positive attitudes about responding to gambling issues, and more confidence in detecting/screening for PG. In conclusion, the findings highlight the need to upskill mental health clinicians so they can better identify and manage PG and point towards opportunities for enhanced integrated working with gambling services.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

An Examination of Clinician Responses to Problem Gambling in Community Mental Health Services

Manning

Dowling

Rodda

et al. 2020

JCM

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“…For example, in our home jurisdiction of Ontario, Canada, there are over 23,000 individual slot machines (Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation, 2019). Despite their unique appeal, research has recognized that slot machines can pose serious problems for a small proportion of gamblers (Dowling et al, 2019;Pfund et al, 2020). For example, problem gamblers face a variety of difficulties ranging from financial troubles to health and/or relationship problems (Blaszczynski, Sharpe, Walker, Shannon, & Coughlan, 2005;Lahn, 2005;Li, Browne, Rawat, Langham, & Rockloff, 2017).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Using deliberate mind-wandering to escape negative mood states: Implications for gambling to escape

Kruger

Dixon

Graydon

et al. 2020

JBA

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Background and aims: Slot machines are a pervasive form of gambling in North America. Some gamblers describe entering “the slot machine zone”—a complete immersion into slots play to the exclusion of all else. Methods: We assessed 111 gamblers for mindfulness (using the Mindful Attention Awareness Scale (MAAS)), gambling problems (using the Problem Gambling Severity Index (PGSI)), depressive symptoms (using the Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Scale), and boredom proneness (using the Boredom Proneness Scale). In a counterbalanced order, participants played a slot machine simulator and completed an auditory vigilance task. During each task, participants were interrupted with thought probes to assess whether they were: on-task, spontaneously mind-wandering, or deliberately mind-wandering. After completing each task, we retrospectively assessed flow and affect. Compared to the more exciting slots play, we propose that gamblers may use deliberate mind-wandering as a maladaptive means to regulate affect during a repetitive vigilance task. Results: Our key results were that gamblers reported greater negative affect following the vigilance task (when compared to slots) and greater positive affect following slots play (when compared to the vigilance task). We also found that those who scored higher in problem gambling were more likely to use deliberate mind-wandering as a means to cope with negative affect during the vigilance task. Using hierarchical multiple regression, we found that the number of “deliberately mind-wandering” responses accounted for unique variance when predicting problem gambling severity (over and above depression, mindfulness, and boredom proneness). Conclusions: These assessments highlight a potential coping mechanism used by problem gamblers in order to deal with negative affect.

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“…Potential interventions could include school-based and family based interventions for adolescents that target a range of addictive behaviours, which have been shown to be effective for the prevention of later alcohol, tobacco and illicit substance use [64], as well as opportunistic delivery of brief screens and interventions for young adults [65] (e.g., general practice, university students). These findings also highlight the need for regular screening for gambling problems within alcohol and other drug treatment services, in order to identify at-risk individuals and provide appropriate resources and referrals [32,66]. It might also suggest the need for up-skilling alcohol and other drug treatment service providers in the delivery of brief and targeted interventions for individuals with co-occurring substance use and gambling problems [11].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 95%

Adult Gambling Problems and Histories of Mental Health and Substance Use: Findings from a Prospective Multi-Wave Australian Cohort Study

Merkouris

Greenwood

Youssef

et al. 2021

JCM

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Little is known about the cumulative effect of adolescent and young adult mental health difficulties and substance use problems on gambling behaviour in adulthood. We use data from one of Australia’s longest running studies of social and emotional development to examine the extent to which: (1) mental health symptoms (depressive and anxiety symptoms) and substance use (weekly binge drinking, tobacco, and cannabis use) from adolescence (13–18 years) into young adulthood (19–28 years) predict gambling problems in adulthood (31–32 years); and (2) risk relationships differ by sex. Analyses were based on responses from 1365 adolescent and young adult participants, spanning seven waves of data collection (1998–2014). Persistent adolescent to young adult binge drinking, tobacco use and cannabis use predicted gambling at age 31–32 years (OR = 2.30–3.42). Binge drinking and tobacco use in young adulthood also predicted gambling at age 31–32 years (OR = 2.04–2.54). Prior mental health symptoms were not associated with gambling and no risk relationships differed by sex. Findings suggest that gambling problems in adulthood may be related to the earlier development of other addictive behaviours, and that interventions targeting substance use from adolescence to young adulthood may confer additional gains in preventing later gambling behaviours.

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The diagnostic accuracy of brief screening instruments for problem gambling: A systematic review and meta-analysis

Cited by 39 publications

References 83 publications

An Examination of Clinician Responses to Problem Gambling in Community Mental Health Services

An Examination of Clinician Responses to Problem Gambling in Community Mental Health Services

Using deliberate mind-wandering to escape negative mood states: Implications for gambling to escape

Adult Gambling Problems and Histories of Mental Health and Substance Use: Findings from a Prospective Multi-Wave Australian Cohort Study

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