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Disordered Gambling Vs Social Gambling

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The DSM-V defines gambling as “risking something of value in the hopes of obtaining something of greater value” (2013). Gambling can be a social event, entertainment or a professional pursuit. It is accepted in many cultures and for most people gambling will not result in negative consequences. For others, gambling can risk livelihood, relationships and personal well-being.
In the United States, the prevalence rate of gambling disorder is 3% (Rosenberg & Feder, 2014). The prevalence rate for adolescent and young adult problem gamblers is estimated at 0.3%-10% (WILEY HANDBOOK). Internationally, the estimated prevalence rate for problem gambling is 0.4% - 5.3% (Rosenberg & Feder, 2014). Gambling disorder is considered a public health concern …show more content…

Disordered gambling ranges in severity from mild to extreme, comorbidity with other mental health disorders is high (DSM-V, 2014) and “statistical analyses do not always clearly differentiate disordered gamblers from social or recreational gamblers when simply looking at wagers, bets won/lost, or total money lost” (Blaszcynski, et al., p. 2).
Professional and social gambling are categorized in the DSM-V as “nondisorderd gambling”. Professional gambling is disciplined with limited risks. Social gambling differs in that it lasts over a limited time period, is part of engaging with others and losses are an acceptable outcome (2013).
Gambling disorder mimics behavior and consequences of addiction to alcohol and other substances. People with gambling disorder will choose smaller, more immediate rewards over larger delayed rewards (Blaszcynski, et al., 2013, p. 3), have a loss of control of behavior, as well as experiencing negative consequences personally, socially and at work (Catren et al., …show more content…

Life for the disordered gambler can become isolated since “social interactions lose their saliency and reward value over time.” (Blaszcynski, Nower and Richard, 2013, p.3). High rates of bankruptcy and divorce are associated with disordered gambling (Rosenberg & Feder, 2014, pg. 35). For young adults and college students…….A literature review on gambling in rural communities worldwide found that problem gamblers living in rural areas have “a number of risk factors, in particular the likelihood of suicide” (Tolchard, 2015, pg. 91).
The most recent edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual reclassified gambling disorder, previously referred to as pathological gambling, from “Impulse Control Disorders Not Elsewhere Classified,” to “Substance-Related and Addictive Disorders”. A diagnosis of gambling disorder must meet the following DSM-V criteria:
A. Persistent and recurrent problematic gambling behavior leading to clinically significant impairment or distress, as indicated by the individual exhibiting four (or more) of the following in a 12-month

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