![]() ![]() Among pathological gamblers, attempted or completed suicide is not uncommon. In two studies systematically evaluating quality of life, individuals with PG reported significantly poorer life satisfaction compared with general, non-clinical adult samples. With the functional impairment and health problems that individuals with PG experience, it is not surprising that they also report poor quality of life. Data from the National Epidemiologic Survey of Alcohol and Related Conditions showed that pathological gamblers are more likely to have a mood disorder, bipolar disorder, generalized anxiety disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder, a substance use disorder or an alcohol use disorder. īoth epidemiological and clinical research demonstrates that PG is highly comorbid with other psychiatric conditions. PG is also associated with greater health problems (for example, cardiac problems and liver disease) and an increased use of medical services. Financial difficulties often exacerbate the personal and family problems. PG is also frequently associated with marital problems and diminished intimacy and trust within the family. Work-related problems such as absenteeism, poor performance and job loss are common. Individuals with PG suffer significant impairment in their ability to function socially and occupationally. Although the majority of individuals participate in gambling as a social activity, individuals who develop PG become over involved in terms of time invested and money wagered, and continue to gamble despite the significantly negative impact on their personal, social and financial well-being. Pathological gambling (PG) is a psychiatric disorder characterized by persistent and recurrent maladaptive patterns of gambling behaviour. ![]() Identification of factors related to treatment response will help inform future studies and advance treatment strategies for PG. Heterogeneity of PG treatment samples may also complicate identification of effective treatments. Response measures have varied across studies. those without co-occurring psychiatric disorders). Most published studies, however, have employed relatively small sample sizes, are of limited duration and involve possibly non-representative clinical groups (e.g. Given that several studies have demonstrated their efficacy in treating the symptoms associated with PG, opioid antagonists should be considered the first line treatment for PG at this time. Although limited information is available, opioid antagonists and glutamatergic agents have demonstrated efficacious outcomes, especially for individuals with PG suffering from intense urges to engage in the behaviour. Antidepressants, atypical antipsychotics and mood stabilizers have demonstrated mixed results in controlled clinical trials. A variety of medication classes have been examined in the treatment of PG with varying results. Study outcome and the mean dose of medication administered was documented in an effort to determine a preferred medication choice in this population. A systematic review of the 18 double-blind, placebo-controlled pharmacotherapy studies conducted for the treatment of pathological gambling was conducted. ![]() This review seeks to examine the history of medication treatments for PG. Although common and financially devastating to individuals and families, there currently exist no formally approved pharmacotherapeutic interventions for this disorder. Pathological gambling (PG) is a relatively common and often disabling psychiatric condition characterized by intrusive urges to engage in deleterious gambling behaviour. ![]()
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