Gambling Addiction

Prevention

Prevention of pathological gambling disorder is very difficult because it is impossible to predict when someone will react to gambling in a way that leads to compulsive gambling. If a person begins to feel, however, that he or she may have a problem, immediate treatment can prevent the development of a disorder that affects all areas of life and may have legal as well as economic consequences.

See also Internet addiction disorder; Self-help groups

BOOKS

American Psychiatric Association. Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders.4th ed., text revised. Washington D.C.: American Psychiatric Association,2000.

Forward, Susan, Ph.D., and Craig Buck. "Compulsive Gambling." Chapter 5 in Money Demons. New York and Toronto: Bantam Books, 1994.

Sadock, Benjamin J. and Virginia A. Sadock, eds. Comprehensive Textbook of Psychiatry.7th ed. Vol. 2. Philadelphia: Lippincott Williams and Wilkins, 2000.

PERIODICALS

Emerson, Jim. "Gamblers." Direct12, no. 8 (June 2000): 83.

Manisses Communications Group Inc. "Study Finds Other Psychiatric Ills Accompany Pathological Gambling." The Brown University Digest of Addiction Theory and Application18, no. 7 (July 1999): 4.

Nicol, John. "Gambling It All Away: The Spread of Casinos in Canada is Posing a Threat to the Country's Growing Population of Seniors." Maclean'sFebruary 7, 2000:16.

ORGANIZATIONS

Gamblers Anonymous. P. O. Box 17173, Los Angeles, CA 90017. (219) 386-8789. <www.gamblersanonymous.org>.

Tish Davidson, A.M.

Content licensed from:

Author Info: Tish Davidson A.M., The Gale Group Inc., Gale, Detroit, Gale Encyclopedia of Mental Disorders, 2003

This feature is for informational purposes only and should not be used to replace the care and information received from your healthcare provider. Please consult a healthcare professional with any health concerns you may have.