Addiction to
gambling is an often heard word with lots of movies and serials based on this
disorder. Yes it is a disorder and not a moral problem and has to be treated
like any other medical ailment.
What is gambling addiction?
Gambling addiction
or pathological gambling as it is medically known as is an impulse control
disorder. An impulse control disorder is characterized by sudden mounting
tension and arousal with anticipatory relief after the act has been performed.
Aspects of gambling addiction are-
1. A preoccupation with gambling
2. A need to gamble with increasing
amounts of money.
3. Repeated efforts to cut back on
gambling.
4. Gambling as a way to escape from
problems
5. Gambling to recover losses
6. Lying to hide the extent of loss in
gambling
7. Doing illegal acts to finance it.
8. Risking personal relationships because
of gambling.
9. Taking debts to pay debts.
There are four phases of pathological
gambling
1. Winning phase-a big win kicks off the
manifestation of this disorder.
2. Progressive loss phase-in this phase
the gamblers start talking foolish risks and end loosing.
3. Desperate phase- in this phase the
patient loses and gets into debt trap.
4. Helpless phase- the patient admits
that the money lost cannot be won back but keeps gambling for excitement.
Last stage may occur after 15 years start until then gambler
is ruined.
Treatment for gambling addiction
Medicinal treatment
of pathological gambling is by-
SSRI’S
Lithium
TCA’S
Gamblers anonymous is a self-help group which helps people stay away from gambling. It
is formed from gamblers which have left gambling.
Cognitive behavioraltherapy is of some use in the treatment of pathological gambling.
Family therapy
also yields good results. Hospitalization may be necessary in some cases to make
the patient stay away from the environment.
Wishing you
a long and healthy life
Dr Hitesh
Sharma
MBBS, MD (Psychiatry)
For asking a query or phone/video consultation with me visit- https://www.icliniq.com/hitesh
For asking a query or phone/video consultation with me visit- https://www.icliniq.com/hitesh
