Pathological gambling and its link to suicide

Here's what research reveals about the relationship between pathological gambling and suicide.

Gambling is extremely common in modern society, as it has been with humans for centuries and is ubiquitous in almost every society.They have accompanied human beings for centuries and are ubiquitous in almost all societies and cultures.

In a game of chance, the participant risks a certain amount of money or material goods in the belief that "something" (defined as a game, sport, race, etc.) will have a predictable outcome. The winning person multiplies the amount wagered and makes a profit, to the detriment of all other participants who have lost.

In the United States, it is estimated that 78% of the population has ever participated in a game of chance.. This figure is not at all surprising when we look at economic figures, since organizations in this country estimate an annual expenditure of some 300 million dollars on online gambling alone. Poker houses in this region spend $1.9 billion annually, while lotteries intercept some $80 billion in the same period.

All these data show us a very clear reality: gambling is the order of the day and, with it, the increase in the incidence of pathological gambling. Here is what you need to know, we explain everything you need to know about the relationship between pathological gambling and suicide..

What is pathological gambling?

A gambling addict is a person who is forced, by a completely uncontrollable psychological urge, to gamble and risk his or her assets in an unhealthy and progressive way. As of today, the official document on psychological disorders "Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders" (DSM-5) classifies pathological gambling as an addiction, similar to what happens with chemical substances that generate dependency..

In order for a person to be considered a gambler, he/she must present 4 or more of the following criteria for a period of 12 months or more:

• The patient needs to gamble more and more money to reach the desired level of excitement.
• The patient is disturbed or irritated when he/she tries to stop gambling.
• Has tried to quit gambling several times without success.
• He has persistent thoughts about gambling.
• Resorts to gambling when feeling negative emotions.
• Resorts to the fallacy of "trying to win the money back the next day" after having lost large amounts.
• Lies when acknowledging his level of involvement in the gambling world.
• Has lost relationships, jobs or educational paths in order to continue gambling.
• He relies on others to make good his financial losses.

As we have seen, a person must meet at least 4 of these requirements to be considered a potential psychological patient with pathological gambling. In the United States, the prevalence of this disorder ranges from 0.1 to 6% of the total population, depending on the studies and the core population.depending on the studies and centers consulted. This translates, approximately, into almost 6 million people who need psychological treatment for their gambling problems.

Pathological gambling and suicide: two sides of the same coin.

There are multiple studies that have linked pathological gambling with suicide, but one is particularly striking: Problem gambling and suicidality in England: secondary analysis of a representative cross-sectional surveywhich was published in the medical journal Public Health in 2020, a very short time ago.

In this research, a random sample group of 7,403 adults living in England was collected, and an attempt was made to correlate problem gambling with an increased likelihood of suicidal thoughts. To the surprise of few, gambling patients had almost 20% suicidal tendencies, compared to 4% of the total population.. Exactly, the probability of considering suicide was 5.3 times higher in people who had a gambling problem.

We go further, because 4.7% of gambling patients had not only thought about suicide, but also attempted it. There are many more data that allow us to quantify the clear link between gambling and this event, as in some hospitals (in this case the Alfred Hospital's emergency department, Australia) up to 17% of people admitted after a suicide attempt in 2010 were gamblers.

What is the reason for this correlation?

Gambling addiction, like any other chronic addiction, affects the patient both physically and emotionally, affects the patient both physically and emotionally in a serious way.. For example, various medical sources estimate that people with gambling problems are twice as likely to suffer from depression, and are up to 18 times more likely to suffer emotional distress as a result of their difficult situation.

In addition to these data, it should be noted that this correlation is not unidirectional. A person may develop depression as a result of the effects of gambling (financial loss, lack of work, social isolation, etc.), but It is also possible for a depressed person to try to find excitement in gambling.. The causality of both events depends on each person and case.

For example, a person with goallessness and/or depression may turn to play to escape from negative emotions or, alternatively, to feel part of a particular dynamic and collective. Playing can become routine.

It is not difficult to imagine why suicidal tendencies accumulate in a gambling addict: lack of money means inability to achieve goals, uncertainty, chronic anxiety and stress, and feelings of abandonment..

Thus, the high rates of suicidal ideation and suicide attempts secondary to gambling are well established among those with gambling disorders. However, major depression (current or past) is a clear predictor of suicide risk among pathological gamblers. In this sense, comorbid depression in pa thological gamblers would further increase the risk of suicide (Guillou-Landreat et al., 2016).

What to do?

As you may have gathered, it is clear that pathological gambling is linked to suicide. Among the many potential adverse consequences of gambling, the most serious is suicidal behavior, as 20% of pathological gamblers will attempt suicide during their lifetime (Moghaddam et al., 2015).

There are risk factors that increase the relationship between pathological gambling and suicide. First, there is financial stress that has been associated with gamblers' suicide, either directly or indirectly, because of the relationship between financial problems and increased family conflict, which in turn is associated with increased suicidality (Bucha nan et al., 2020; Carr et al., 2018). It is clear that suicidal thoughts in addicts are common and are more than documented..

If you have seen yourself reflected in any of the points mentioned above when diagnosing a problem gambling patient, it is important that you seek professional help and do not let time pass. The Psychology Clinic G.SINadictionsspecialized in gambling addiction, is directed by the psychologist Sara Meca, with experience in addictive disorders. The sooner the problem is dealt with, the less it will cost to overcome it. These types of problems can be treated pharmacologically and/or psychologically, so seeking treatment is the wisest decision any sick person can make.

Bibliographical references:

• Buchanan, T. W., McMullin, S. D., Baxley, C., & Weinstock, J. (2020). Stress and gambling. Current Opinion in Behavio ral Sciences, 31, 8-12. https://doi. org/10.1016/j.cobeha.2019.09.004.
• Clark, L., Averbeck, B., Payer, D., Sescousse, G., Winstanley, C. A., & Xue, G. (2013). Pathological choice: the neuroscience of gambling and gambling addiction. Journal of Neuroscience, 33(45), 17617-17623.
• Fong, T. W. (2005). The biopsychosocial consequences of pathological gambling. Psychiatry (Edgmont), 2(3), 22.
• Guillou-Landreat, M., Guilleux, A., Sauva get, A., Brisson, L., Leboucher, J., Re maud, M., Challet-Bouju, G., & Grall- Bronnec, M. (2016). Factors associa ted with suicidal risk among a French cohort of problem gamblers seeking treatment. Psychiatry Research, 240, 11–18. https://doi.org/10.1016/j. psychres.2016.04.008.
• Moghaddam, J. F., Yoon, G., Dickerson, D. L., Kim, S. W., & Westermeyer, J. (2015). Suicidal ideation and suicide attempts in five groups with different severities of gambling: Findings from the National Epidemiologic Survey on Alcohol and Related Conditions. American Journal on Addictions, 24(4), 292–298. https:https://doi. org/10.1111/ajad.12197
• The epidemiology and impact of gambling disorder and other gambling-related harm, OMS.
• Wardle, H., John, A., Dymond, S., & McManus, S. (2020). Problem gambling and suicidality in England: secondary analysis of a representative cross-sectional survey. Public Health, 184, 11-16.