The relationship between substance use disorder and gambling disorder: A nationwide longitudinal health registry study

Abstract

Aim: This study aimed to examine the co-morbidity and temporal relationship between substance abuse disorders (SUDs) and gambling disorder (GD). Method: Cross-tabulated census data were retrieved from the Norwegian Patient Registry. The data included the number of patients by year of first-time incidence of GD and/or SUD diagnoses, age and sex from 2008 to 2017. Results: Approximately 22.5% of GD patients were also diagnosed with SUD, whereas 0.7% of SUD patients were also diagnosed with GD. Among GD patients, males had a greater risk of SUD in the same year compared to females, whereas the risk of SUD a year or more after the onset of GD was greater among females compared to males. Among SUD patients, males had a greater risk of GD in all age categories and across all time periods except among those aged 40–66 years. The risk of GD three to four years after the onset of SUD among those aged 40–66 years was similar between SUD males and females. Discussion: The overall co-morbidity of SUD and GD was low. However, the risk of the other addictive disorder was contingent upon the nature of the first disorder. The risk of SUD among GDs over time was greater among females compared to males. Conclusions: The risk of the other addictive disorder appears to be contingent upon the first addictive disorder. There are sex differences in the risk trajectories of the other addictive disorder over time between GD patients and SUD patients.

Temporal order of diagnosis between gambling disorder and substance use disorders: Longitudinal results from the Norwegian Patient Registry

“…This limited literature offers little regarding possible differences in temporality with regard to sex differences. However, findings using cross-tabulated census data from the Norwegian Patient Registry, suggest sex differences in timing of SUD for patients with GD ( Leino et al, 2021 ). More specifically, males with GD had a higher risk of a SUD diagnosis within the same year whereas females with GD had a higher risk of diagnosis of SUD one or more years after initial onset of GD.…”

“…This study also found SUD to be more prevalent among individuals with GD (i.e., 22.5%), as compared to GD among individuals with SUD (i.e., 0.7%). While the Leino et al (2021) study use the same registry data as the current study to investigate SUD and GD, the studies differ in terms of their aim, scope, and research questions. For example, Leino et al (2021) used aggregate level data and did not undergo any inference-based statistical analysis, whereas the present study examines individual level data using inferential analysis.…”

“…While the Leino et al (2021) study use the same registry data as the current study to investigate SUD and GD, the studies differ in terms of their aim, scope, and research questions. For example, Leino et al (2021) used aggregate level data and did not undergo any inference-based statistical analysis, whereas the present study examines individual level data using inferential analysis. The time span is also longer in the present study, and we further distinguished between type of SUD experienced.…”

“It Always Depends on the Context”

“…One of the most common comorbid disorders associated with gambling problems is substance use disorder, including alcohol use, nicotine addiction, and drug use (Desai et al, 2006;Franco et al, 2011;Griffiths et al, 2011;Leino et al, 2021;Liu et al, 2009;Merkouris et al, 2021;Okunna et al, 2016;Parhami et al, 2014;Pietrzak et al, 2007). For example, compared to people who do not gamble, people who gamble (i.e., those who do not experience negative consequences as a result of gambling) are more likely to report problems associated with alcohol use (Parhami et al, 2014).…”

FOXN3 and GDNF Polymorphisms as Common Genetic Factors of Substance Use and Addictive Behaviors

“…Gene network analysis showed immune signaling and extracellular signal-regulated protein kinases 1 and 2 ( ERK1/2 ) as novel genetic markers for multiple addiction phenotypes including alcohol, tobacco, and opioid use disorders [ 56 ]. Moreover, shared genetic contributions to gambling and substance use disorders were described [ 39 , 40 , 41 , 57 , 58 ].…”