Compulsive Gambling

This research paper will evaluate the biological aspects of addictive substance or behavior and how it affects the brain and organs. Biological aspects include dopamine levels that are replaced in the brain due to the reward system being overtaken and the absorption rate of the drug once it is ingested will be discussed. The biological aspects are extensive and permanent if the individual does not get the help they need. Furthermore the clinical issues of addictive substance or behavior will be discussed along with medical treatments and ethical issues. This includes treatments such as counseling

As results of scientific research, we know that addiction is a disease that affects both the brain and behavior. A disease is an interruption, cessation, or disorder of a body system, or organ structure, or function; according to Stedman’s Medical Dictionary. (Sheff ,2013) cites, the disease od addiction has an etiologic agent, identified by a group of signs and symptoms or consistent anatomic alterations. There are significant changes in the brain. The American Society of Addiction Medicine (ASAM) states that addiction is a primary, chronic disease of brain reward motivation, memory and related circuitry. Dysfunction in these circuits leads to characteristics biological, psychological, social and spiritual manifestations. This is reflected in an individual pathology pursuing reward and /or relief by substance use and other behaviors. (Addiction is characterized by inability to consistently abstain, impairment of behavioral control, craving, diminished recognition of significant problems with one’s behaviors and interpersonal relationships and dysfunctional emotional responses. Like other chronic diseases, addiction often involves cycles of relapse, and remission. Without treatment or engagement in recovery activities, addiction is progressive and can result in disability or premature death. (ASAM Adopted as Policy, February

However, this claim is far from the truth. The addiction of gambling has lead researchers and psychologists to prove that money, is not the only reason people get hooked. According to Sevencounties.org, researchers have created four key components that have addressed why gambling has become an addiction throughout the human brain. The first component are the changes to the brain's cerebral cortex which are associated with impaired decision-making, impulsivity, and compulsivity. These changes make it more likely that someone may act on risky or unhealthy impulses, while also fighting the urge. Secondly, the brain’s reward system is being blocked by the addictive feeling of winning, therefore halting the ability to stop playing. This feeling also releases copious amounts of dopamine in which the brain will naturally request more of, until it is satisfied. Third, the brain’s reward system is also associated with memory and emotion. For example, card counters, receive the feeling of reward due to the ability to count cards in a manner that will make winning the hand easier and the probability higher, compared to an individual who is merely playing on luck. This in effect tells the individual’s brain that it is doing well in the memory stage, therefore releasing dopamine and continuing the second and third concept all over again. Lastly, addiction has a significant

The excitement and risk taking associated with gambling is what gets the adrenaline pumping and stimulates the brain into wanting more. Hence, why gambling and betting on the lottery can lead to addiction in some cases. Other addictions associated with alcohol and drugs have similar effects to a gambling addict. Both addicts are vulnerable to lose themselves by the constant urge and desire to have the adrenaline rush from the substance. Regardless of what harm can come from alcohol, tobacco, or gambling it depends on the individual and how they respond to the

Addiction is like all behaviours “the business of the brain”. Addictions are compulsive physical and psychological needs from habit-forming sustenances like nicotine, alcohol, and drugs. Being occupied with or involved in such activities, leads a person who uses them again and again to become tolerant and dependent eventually experiencing withdrawal. (Molintas, 2006).

In 2013, the release of the updated Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition (DSM-5) added gambling disorder to the category titled Substance-Related and Addictive Disorders. (The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 2013) In the previous edition of the DSM, gambling, along with other behavioral addictions were in the Impulse Control Disorders category of the DSM-III and DSM-IV (Clark, 2014). Behavioral Addictions are said to be around for hundreds of years. For example, gambling was part of daily life in ancient Greece. (Hekster, 2002). In the first edition of American Psychiatric Association in 1812, there was detailed mention of excessive sexual desire (Rush, 1812). Yet, behavioral

Much like substance abuse, pathological gambling can often take over an individual’s life and jeopardize their ability to fulfil, social, family or work-related responsibilities. For example, family discordance (Lorenz & Yaffee, 1986), and large debts and bankruptcies are highly common (Fong, 2005). 60 percent of pathological gamblers are also found to commit illegal acts to support their gambling (Rosenthal & Lorenz, 1992). This makes the continuation of behaviours or activities despite their adverse consequences a key component that defines both pathological gamblers and substance abuser (Lesieur & Rosenthal, 1991). As Shaffer and Korn (2003) note, people with kleptomania and pyromania are driven by impulse, and report a sense of relief once completing the behaviour. In contrast, pathological gamblers report experiencing enjoyment during the act, and often distress afterwards, once gambling’s ceases or losses are incurred. All this suggests that problem gamblers clinically resemble alcoholics or drug addicts.

Research suggests that there are relationships between problem gambling, borderline personality disorder, anti-social personality disorder, depression, anxiety, bulimia nervosa and substance abuse disorders (Fischer & Smith, 2008; MacLaren, Fugelsang, Harrigan, & Dixon, 2011; Sacco, Cunningham-Williams, Ostmann, & Spitznagel, 2008). The body of research that suggests the relationship and co-morbidities of problem gambling and the above mentioned psychological disorders are primarily linked to shared personality traits, especially the high scores in neuroticism and high impulsivity (MacLaren, Best, Dixon, & Harrigan, 2011; MacLaren, Fugelsang, Harrigan, & Dixon, 2011; Sacco, Cunningham-Williams, Ostmann, & Spitznagel, 2008). Further investigation into problem gambling and co-morbidity is needed, to fully determine the extent of the relationships and to explore the possibility that individuals with gambling problem could be gambling as a form of escapism to avoid instances of anxiety and depression, and it is a maladaptive coping mechanism for some individual’s, making it the symptom rather than the cause in some cases (Bagby, et al., 2007; Myrseth, Pallesen, Molde, Johnsen, & Lorvik,

Addiction is the term used when a person takes part in an activity, or ingests a substance that gives them pleasure, but then the continuous use of it becomes compulsive and starts interfering with their everyday life. The behaviour of an addict can easily be recognised as it represents confusing human activity. (Shaffer, 1996). These behaviours can include gambling, excessive sexual behaviours, smoking and drug and alcohol abuse.

Another possible treatment for compulsive gambling would be cognitive-behavioral therapy. Cognitive-behavioral therapy is a goal-oriented psychotherapy treatment. Cognitive-behavioral therapy is generally short term. The treatment takes a practical approach on problem-solving. Sylvain, Ladouceur, and Boisvert, (1997) studied the effects of cognitive behavioral therapy on compulsive gambling. The treatment consisted of four components which were: (a) cognitive correction of inaccurate perceptions about gambling, (b) problem solving training, (c) social skills training, and (d) relapse prevention. The sample consisted of 29 men who were considered to have a pathological gambling problem. The results showed changes in the treatment group when maintaining therapeutic gains. The findings of the study suggested highly significant changes in the treatment group on the entire outcome measures tested for, follow ups also showed maintenance of therapeutic gains (Sylvain et al., 1997). One positive of cognitive-behavioral therapy is that is considered just as helpful as medication. One drawback of this approach was the fact it was a short term treatment a long term treatment may have had more of significant impact on the abstinence of

The first article I found is about gambling and how problem gambling relates to other health issues. The first thing that the article lay out the two ways of classifying problem gambling. “non-mutually exclusive conceptuali¬zations of pathological gambling classify the disorder as an impulse control disorder lying along an obsessive-compulsive spectrum or like an addiction to a drug” (Potenza, 2002). The article goes in-depth on several different types of disorders and the prevalence of gambling amongst people with these disorders. The first disorders that they look at in the article are substance abuse disorders and they found that was up to ten times as prevalent in people with substance use disorders(Potenza,2002). The article continues

     Gambling addiction is an issue found in numerous areas where gambling is legal. People who are addicted to gambling, also know as problem gamblers, face many health risks including depression, suicidal thoughts, loss of sleep, loss of appetite, migraine and anxiety in addition to marriage breakdown, problems at work and bankruptcy (9). About 2 percent of adults are thought to be problem gamblers (1). In today’s society this costly addiction is not often considered to be a common problem among those who gamble. Only a small amount of states in the U.S. give enough attention toward this rising problem of people that are sometimes even willing to commit crimes just to aid their addiction. In the past our

Gambling is the act of risking an object of personal value, usually money, for the chance of winning a greater reward. A gambling disorder, previously known as pathological gambling, is when gambling begins to take over all aspects of life affecting relationships, and work. The category that a gambling disorder should be classified under in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth edition (DSM-5) has been debated. Gambling disorder previously was classified as an Impulse Control Disorder, but in the new edition, DSM-5, it is classified as a Substance-Related and Addictive Disorder (Clark, 2014). The reason for debate on the topic was because of the characteristics of the disorder,

The fourth member who shared the experience of gambling addiction was a 28 years old male who had master’s degree and worked in the financial department in a bank. He just stopped for the last two years and joined the Gamblers Anonymous. He did not realize that he had a problem. He started his gambling habit by playing poker with friends and playing online in 2000. He declared that he owed six figures plus interest to the credit card companies. He did not have a concept about keeping money. Furthermore, he claimed that what he enjoyed during gambling was the impulse. El-Guebaly, Mudry, Tavares, & Potenza (2011) also supported, "pathological gambling have been described as ego-syntonic, meaning they are often preceded by feelings of pleasure,

Addiction, dependence, compulsion, weakness; those are the words society choose to label our biological manifestation of want and need for engaging in the fulfilment of gratification, of pleasure and rewarding stimulus despite adverse consequences. Addiction arises from the humans innate reward system where our ability to stay alive is owed to behaviors that effect positive outcomes like survival and reproduction. Thus in a sense, humans have been satisfying addiction for thousands of years; it is hard wired into our psyche from well before we diverged from our common ancestors. Disorders from abusing this pleasure-reward system by consuming particularly addictive substances such as alcohol or drugs can alter our bodies’ biochemical pathways