Search Results (23)

Background: In psychiatry, gambling is classified as an addiction-related disorder and is characterized by a persistent, problematic pattern of behaviour that leads to significant distress and functional impairment. This study aims to explore the prevalence, underlying motivations, and potential academic impact of gambling behaviours among medical students in Poland. Methods: An anonymous online survey was conducted among students from multiple medical universities across Poland. Participants completed a sociodemographic questionnaire and the South Oaks Gambling Screen (SOGS). Respondents who reported any past or current gambling activity were additionally asked about their motivations and potential academic consequences. Results: The study included 281 participants. Active or past gambling was reported by 55% of respondents, with men significantly more likely to gamble currently. Women were predominantly non-problem gamblers, whereas men more often scored within the “some problems” range on the SOGS. Motivations also differed: women emphasised financial gain, while men cited fun, socializing, and competition. Lottery and scratch cards were most popular overall, though men preferred skill-based and casino activities. Conclusions: Although participants showed relatively low levels of gambling involvement, their risk of developing pathological gambling was comparable to that of the general population. Gender influenced involvement in different gambling patterns. Full article

Addiction remains a persistent public health crisis, marked by poor treatment retention and limited pharmacotherapy options. Emerging treatments, such as psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy and neuromodulation, offer promising avenues for circuit-level interventions in behavioral addictions. This narrative review synthesizes the current landscape of psychedelic compounds and neuromodulation techniques with a focus on their mechanisms of action, applications in specific behavioral addictions, and translational potential. By targeting disrupted reward, executive control, and stress regulation networks, these interventions may facilitate meaningful recovery and long-term remission in otherwise treatment refractory cases. We highlight key findings, current research limitations, and future directions in integrating these novel therapies into the treatment of gambling disorder; internet gaming disorder/gaming disorder, predominantly online; internet use disorder; and compulsive sexual behavior disorder. Full article

Technological advancements in algorithmic personalization are widely believed to influence user behavior on online gambling platforms. This study explores how such developments, potentially including AI-driven mechanisms, may affect cognitive and motivational processes, especially in relation to risk perception, decision-making, and betting persistence. Using ordinary least squares (OLS) and panel regression models applied to behavioral data from a gambling platform, we examine patterns that are consistent with increased personalization between two distinct time periods, 2016 and 2021. The datasets do not contain any direct metadata regarding AI interventions. However, we interpret changes in user behavior over time as indicative of evolving personalization dynamics within a broader technological and contextual landscape. Accordingly, our conclusions about algorithmic personalization are inferential and exploratory, drawn from temporal comparisons between 2016 and 2021. Our findings show that users receiving personalized bonuses or making early cash-out decisions tend to adjust their stake sizes and betting frequency in systematic ways, which may reflect indirect effects of technological reinforcement strategies. These behavioral patterns raise important ethical and regulatory questions, particularly regarding user autonomy, algorithmic transparency, and the protection of at-risk users. This research contributes to the literature on digital behavior influencing gambling by framing the analysis as observational and quasi-experimental and suggests that further studies use experimental and log-level data to more specifically analyze the algorithmic effects. However, no causal claims can be made about AI influence as the temporal contradictions are interpreted as broad phenomena of technological developments, since they are not measured as algorithmic interventions. Further studies should also investigate the development of predictive models aimed at countering gambling addiction; evaluate the long-term ethical implications of algorithmic personalization; and discuss potential solutions codeveloped to foster a responsible gambling climate. Full article

Online games have experienced significant growth in recent years, with gaming becoming a popular form of entertainment for people of all ages. However, their impact on cognition, especially among vulnerable groups such as students with disabilities, is a topic that requires deeper exploration. The objectives of this study are twofold: firstly, to understand the typology of risk players (non-risk players, players with problems, and pathological players); and secondly, to compare cognitive distortions among students with problematic profiles. Both objectives will be analyzed based on the presence or absence of disability. A total of 704 students from various Spanish universities (135 with disabilities and 569 without disabilities), aged between 18 and 38, participated in the study by completing the Gamblers Belief Questionnaire (GBQ), aimed at measuring cognitive distortions related to gambling problems, as well as the Massachusetts Gambling Screen questionnaire, aimed at measuring gambling addiction. The results indicate a higher percentage of students with disabilities showing a greater risk profile for addiction. Additionally, this group of students exhibits more cognitive distortions. These findings underscore the need for a comprehensive approach to addressing online gaming addiction and cognitive distortions among university students, with and without disabilities. Preventive measures are necessary, such as education on responsible technology use and the promotion of alternative activities. Moreover, specific intervention strategies need to be developed, including access to psychological health services for this student population. Full article

Background: In 1990, the United States’ Institute of Medicine promoted the principles of outcomes monitoring in the alcohol and other drugs treatment field to improve the evidence synthesis and quality of research. While various national outcome measures have been developed and employed, no global consensus on standard measurement has been agreed for addiction. It is thus timely to build an international consensus. Convened by the International Consortium for Health Outcomes Measurement (ICHOM), an international, multi-disciplinary working group reviewed the existing literature and reached consensus for a globally applicable minimum set of outcome measures for people who seek treatment for addiction. Methods: To this end, 26 addiction experts from 11 countries and 5 continents, including people with lived experience (n = 5; 19%), convened over 16 months (December 2018–March 2020) to develop recommendations for a minimum set of outcome measures. A structured, consensus-building, modified Delphi process was employed. Evidence-based proposals for the minimum set of measures were generated and discussed across eight videoconferences and in a subsequent structured online consultation. The resulting set was reviewed by 123 professionals and 34 people with lived experience internationally. Results: The final consensus-based recommendation includes alcohol, substance, and tobacco use disorders, as well as gambling and gaming disorders in people aged 12 years and older. Recommended outcome domains are frequency and quantity of addictive disorders, symptom burden, health-related quality of life, global functioning, psychosocial functioning, and overall physical and mental health and wellbeing. Standard case-mix (moderator) variables and measurement time points are also recommended. Conclusions: Use of consistent and meaningful outcome measurement facilitates carer–patient relations, shared decision-making, service improvement, benchmarking, and evidence synthesis for the evaluation of addiction treatment services and the dissemination of best practices. The consensus set of recommended outcomes is freely available for adoption in healthcare settings globally. Full article

This study aims to analyze the main and most recent forms of gambling and related psychopathological disorders, also proposing psychological clinical recommendations. From November 2022 to February 2023, we searched the databases of PubMed, Web of Science, Health & Medical Collection, Elsevier Journal, and Springer for relevant studies performing different searches through different search strings. New forms of gambling are mostly related to new technological tools, such as the Internet, smartphones, social media, or electronic machines. The prevalence of online gambling affects all demographic groups, although 35–44-year-olds appear to have the largest share. Online gambling can lead to addiction, financial hardship, and mental health problems. It has also been statistically significantly associated with high levels of Gambling disorder, high levels of depression and anxiety, poor overall mental health, and alcohol use. Furthermore, it has been noted that online gamblers are more likely to engage in high-risk gambling behaviors and have a higher prevalence of comorbid mental disorders. The review highlights the need for continued research on the impact of new forms of gambling and the development of effective prevention and treatment strategies. Further research is needed to better understand the complex relationship between new forms of gambling and the development of gambling disorders. Full article

During the last decade, gambling (online and offline) regulation has become a social and epidemiological problem all around Europe. The aftermaths of this addiction have increased since the so-called “responsible gambling law”, in the second decade of the 21st century. The Overton window (OW) strategy is a political theory that describes how the perception of public opinion can be modified so that ideas that are inconceivable for society become accepted over time. The objective of this study is to identify whether an OW has been used to bias the adequacy of the gambling debate, as well as its scientific, legal, and political bases and the main consequences for both the general population and the major risk groups, especially the consequences in social and health contexts. The study was conducted by the application of the historical-logical method as the central axis of analysis and reflection, and the technique of qualitative research content analysis as a procedure in the process of execution of the scientific task, related to a historical trend study of the research object. The main consequences found were: the political acceptance of gambling for economical causes and taxes benefits, the use of popular characters to increase the acceptance of the pattern of behavior, the inclusion of the gambling operators as agents in the risks control, and the absence of intervention until the main consequences have been transformed into an epidemiological problem (with social aftermaths higher than the previously identified related to the gambling problems). Furthermore, the results suggest the need to implement prevention and health promotion strategies and the adoption of specific legal measures that regulate the access and the marketing of gambling operators’ activities. Full article

(1) Background: In the period between 2008 and 2020, the world experienced two global economic crises that affected people’s way of life and well-being: the financial crisis of 2008 and that precipitated by the COVID-19 pandemic. Despite the crises’ radically different causes, their consequences for economic activity have been equally dramatic; (2) Methods: This article analyzes the consequences of both crises on gambling spending in Spain and compares traditional (offline) games with more recent online offerings. The data were collected from databases maintained by the Spanish government and gambling companies; (3) Results: The paper offers two main conclusions. The first is that, while traditional (offline) gambling has been significantly affected by economic crises, online gambling has exhibited consistent growth since its legalization. The second is that the measures implemented to resolve the two economic crises differed significantly and thus had different impacts on spending on the various types of gambling; (4) Conclusions: The key conclusion is that purchasing power (measured in terms of GDP) can only explain spending on less addictive gambling games, such as lotteries. However, the availability and accessibility of games are both directly related to spending on games of all types. Full article

Background: The present study compared adult usage patterns of online activities, the frequency rate of problematic internet use (PIU), and risk factors (including the psychopathology associated with PIU, i.e., distress and impulsivity) among adults in 15 countries from Europe, America, and Asia. Methods: A total of 5130 adults from Belgium, Finland, Germany, Italy, Spain, France, Switzerland, Hungary, Poland, UK, Norway, Peru, Canada, US, and Indonesia completed an online survey assessing PIU and a number of psychological variables (i.e., depression, anxiety, stress, and impulsivity). The sample included more females, with a mean age of 24.71 years (SD = 8.70). Results: PIU was slightly lower in European countries (rates ranged from 1.1% in Finland to 10.1% in the UK, compared to 2.9% in Canada and 10.4% in the US). There were differences in specific PIU rates (e.g., problematic gaming ranged from 0.4% in Poland to 4.7% in Indonesia). Regression analyses showed that PIU was predicted by problematic social networking and gaming, lack of perseverance, positive urgency, and depression. Conclusions: The differences in PIU between countries were significant for those between continental regions (Europe versus non-European countries). One of the most interesting findings is that the specific PIU risks were generally low compared to contemporary literature. However, higher levels of PIU were present in countries outside of Europe, although intra-European differences existed. Full article

Recent changes in the Swiss gambling context include the introduction of a new gambling policy (Swiss Federal Act on Gambling; GA), and the associated opening of the online gambling market. Within this context it is important to observe evolving trends in gambling behavior. This study therefore aims to identify the gambling behavior and clinical characteristics of a treatment-seeking population over an 18-year period (2001 to 2018). Specifically, the proportion of referrals relating to the three most popular game-types; VLT play, slot machines and online gambling, and associated socio-demographic characteristics, gambling-related spending and clinical features. The results indicate the high addictive potential for VLT and slot-machine use, over the 18-year period with an increasing use of online gambling from 2012 to 2018 (even before the official opening of the market). Problem-gambling vulnerability factors such as low income, unemployment and debts as well as self-reported suicidal ideation, were also over-represented in the sample. This longitudinal overview provides a detailed picture of treatment-seeking referrals, for future comparisons and can be used to tailor clinical interventions. Full article

The World Health Organization recognizes internet gaming disorder (IGD) as a disorder that causes problems in daily life as a result of excessive interest in online games. The causes of IGD have become more apparent in recent years. Because of prolonged exposure to games, the mechanisms controlling the reward system, such as the prefrontal cortex, limbic system, and amygdala of the cerebrum, do not function properly in IGD. This mechanism is similar to that of various behavioral addictions, such as gambling addiction. IGD is particularly risky in children and adolescents because it easily causes brain dysfunction, especially in the developing brain. IGD should be regarded as a new lifestyle-related disease in younger individuals, and lifestyle modifications, including counseling and family therapy, are critical for its management. Full article

This systematic review focuses on all the gambling addiction prevention programs carried out in schools, with the intention of making their effectiveness known and encouraging the creation of more such programs. During the third quarter of 2021, an exhaustive search was conducted using the databases of Scopus, Medline (via Pubmed), WOS, and PsycINFO. The search strategy was based on a combination of specific search terms: “Gambling Disorder [Mesh]”, “Online Gambling Disorder [Mesh]”, and “Prevention Programs [Mesh]”. A total of 15 articles were chosen for systematic review. All the programs analyzed show effective results, although there are several methodological shortcomings in the way they are conducted. Effective programs need to focus more on long-term results and the emotional aspects of gambling. We need professionals who can convey the causal nature of the problem the youth are facing. Full article

This research analyzes young people’s perception of the presence of tipsters as influencers on online sports gambling and whether their presence can promote addiction to this activity. To achieve this goal, we designed a questionnaire that was administered to young people in public universities in Madrid, being answered by 1032 individuals, out of whom 613 claimed to be regular bettors. We proceeded to the factor analysis of the variables with a high or very high correlation, and results showed that young people perceive a clear relationship between gambling and addiction. An even more enlightening aspect is the result that links tipsters with addiction to online sports gambling; young people’s perception correlates both concepts with extraordinary strength. This study’s main conclusion makes it clear that there is a huge amount of influence of tipsters on the world of online sports betting, as well as the risk of marrying these two concepts, since young people perceive that either they or others could be initiated into the world of problem gambling. Full article

Several risk factors have been related to the onset and maintenance of gambling disorder (GD). The aim of this study was to explore the differences in emotion dysregulation, impulsivity, cognitive distortions, and attentional bias between online and land-based gamblers. The sample consisted of 88 treatment-seeking patients from the Behavioral Addictions Unit at the Hospital de la Santa Creu i Sant Pau, Barcelona (Spain). Patients were divided into two groups by considering their main type of gambling, i.e., online (n = 26) and land-based gambling (n = 62). Online gamblers were younger, more often employed, with a higher educational level than land-based gamblers. Regarding the rest of the variables, statistically significant differences were only found in Positive Urgency, one of the UPPS-P subscales, in which the land-based gambling group scored higher than the online gambling group. In this exploratory study, individuals with online and land-based GD phenotypes did not differ either in difficulties in emotion regulation or in attentional and cognitive biases. However, land-based GD patients showed a higher tendency to succumb to strong impulses under the influence of positive emotions. These preliminary findings warrant the need to continue investigating GD phenotypes in larger patient samples. Full article

Ever since the worldwide demand for gambling services started to spread, its expansion has continued steadily. To wit, online gambling is a major industry in every European country, generating billions of Euros in revenue for commercial actors and governments alike. Despite such evidently beneficial effects, online gambling is ultimately a vast social experiment with potentially disastrous social and personal consequences that could result in an overall deterioration of social and familial relationships. Despite the relevance of this problem in society, there is a lack of tools for characterizing the behavior of online gamblers based on the data that are collected daily by betting platforms. This paper uses a time series clustering algorithm that can help decision-makers in identifying behaviors associated with potential pathological gamblers. In particular, experimental results obtained by analyzing sports event bets and black jack data demonstrate the suitability of the proposed method in detecting critical (i.e., pathological) players. This algorithm is the first component of a system developed in collaboration with the Portuguese authority for the control of betting activities. Full article