Male and female pathological gamblers: Bet in a different way and show different mental disorders

Although in the last years several studies comparing male and female pathological gamblers have been published, most of them have been carried out using only samples of males. The aim of this study was to investigate gender differences in a sample of subjects diagnosed with pathological gambling (PG...

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Detalles Bibliográficos
Autores: Díez Marcet, Dominica, Aragay Vicente, Nuria, Soms, Mercè, Prat, Gemma, Casas, Miquel
Tipo de recurso: artículo
Fecha de publicación:2014
País:España
Institución:Varias* (Consorci de Biblioteques Universitáries de Catalunya, Centre de Serveis Científics i Acadèmics de Catalunya)
Repositorio:Recercat. Dipósit de la Recerca de Catalunya
OAI Identifier:oai:recercat.cat:20.500.12328/5266
Acceso en línea:https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.12328/5266
https://dx.doi.org/10.1017/sjp.2014.88
Access Level:acceso embargado
Palabra clave:Pathological gambling
Gender
Psychiatric comorbidity
Gambling behavior
Retrospective study
Juego patológico
Género
Comorbilidad psiquiátrica
Comportamiento de juego
Estudio retrospectivo
Joc patològic
Gènere
Comorbiditat psiquiàtrica
Comportament de joc
Estudi retrospectiu
159.9
Descripción
Sumario:Although in the last years several studies comparing male and female pathological gamblers have been published, most of them have been carried out using only samples of males. The aim of this study was to investigate gender differences in a sample of subjects diagnosed with pathological gambling (PG) attending three specialized outpatient units. Retrospective study was carried out of 96 patients (49% female and 51% male), comparing the main socio-demographic, clinical, and behavioral data. Most subjects (94%) met the criteria for pathological gambling. No significant differences between sexes were found in the severity of gambling behavior or the socio-demographic variables studied. Whereas slot machines were the main type of game for most subjects, a higher percentage of women were addicted to bingo (χ2(1, 4) = 5.19, p = .029 Cohen’s d = 0.48) and had more than one type of game as a secondary addiction χ2(1, 4) = 7.63, p = .006; Cohen’s d = 0.59) . Women started gambling at a later age than men (t (94) = 2.95, p = .004; Cohen’s d = 0.60), but developed a pattern of addiction faster ( t (94) = 2.95, p = .004; Cohen’s d = –0.61) . Women also had higher comorbidity with other psychiatric disorders (χ2(1) = 7.28, p = .007; Cohen’s d = 0.57), specifically with affective (χ2(1) = 11.31, p = .001; Cohen’s d = 0.73) and personality disorders (χ2(1) = 4.71, p = .030; Cohen’s d = 0.45). Our results indicate the existence of differences between women and men in the pattern of gambling behavior and in psychiatric comorbidity. These aspects should be considered in the design of treatment programs for pathological gamblers.