Gambling Addiction Test (Self-Assessment)

Yes, says Dr. Elie G. Aoun. “So far, it is the only behavioral addiction that is validated as a medical disease,” he says, the only non-substance-related disorder in the American Psychiatric Association's Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5). “People say they are addicted to sex or porn or video games, but these are not officially recognized as medical diseases.”

The diagnosis for pathological gambling includes some criteria that are similar to drug and alcohol dependence, he says. These criteria include increasing tolerance (in other words, needing to gamble more money to reach the desired level of excitement), symptoms of withdrawal if gambling is reduced or stopped, and an inability to reduce or stop gambling. Some criteria, like chasing losses, are unique to gambling disorders, Dr. Aoun says.¹ Among the other criteria that must be met for a diagnosis of gambling disorder are often gambling when distressed, relying on others to help with money problems caused by gambling, and lying to hide gambling activity. Of the nine criteria outlined in the DSM-5, four must be met and must have occurred within the past year.¹

Talk to a professional for advice on where to get help, Dr. Elie G. Aoun suggests: “Your primary care provider or your therapist should be able to help you find treatment. If they cannot treat you, they will be able to point you in the right direction.”

The provider who treats you for gambling disorder may be able to help with a co-occurring condition. Often, people with gambling problems have many of the risk factors that predispose people to other addictive behaviors. These include lack of peer or community support, an unstable home life, and other psychiatric issues like depression.² Some 96.3% of lifetime pathological gamblers also met the lifetime criteria for at least one other psychiatric disorder, according to the National Comorbidity Survey Replication in 2008.³

Gambling addiction is widespread enough that there are nationwide support groups that can help people stop gambling. Gamblers Anonymous can help; find out more at gamblersanonymous.org. Some states have gambling helplines, and a National Helpline for substance abuse and mental health services also is available at 1-800-662-4357.

People with a gambling addiction can develop strategies to help with cravings. For instance, you can reach out for support by calling a trusted friend or family member, or you may distract yourself with other activities. Postponing gambling and giving yourself time may allow the urge to pass or to at least weaken. It also can be helpful if you stop for just a moment and think about the consequences, and what will happen if you gamble.⁴

Around 1% of American adults have a severe gambling problem. Some 6% to 9% of young people and young adults have problems related to gambling, which is a higher rate than adults have.²

Recovering is challenging, but it is possible, says Dr. Elie G. Aoun. There are a couple of different approaches, he says. To get better, a combination of medication and psychotherapy can be helpful. While no medications are approved to treat gambling addiction, some medications can be used to treat co-occurring conditions such as anxiety or depression.

“Motivational interviewing is a form of psychotherapy that focuses on increasing people’s motivation to change their behavior,” he says.

Counseling can be useful because it can help an individual consider how gambling affects them and their families. Several forms of therapy are used to treat gambling disorders. These include group therapy, family therapy, cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), and psychodynamic therapy.

Different people respond to different approaches in an individual way.⁴