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Male and Female Pathological Gamblers: Bet in a Different Way and Show Different Mental Disorders

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  29 December 2014

Dominica Díez ,
Núria Aragay ,
Mercè Soms ,
Gemma Prat  and
Miquel Casas
Dominica Díez*
Affiliation:
Universitat Autónoma de Barcelona (Spain)
Núria Aragay
Affiliation:
Consorci Sanitari de Terrassa (Spain)
Mercè Soms
Affiliation:
XSM-Institut d’Assistència Sanitària de Girona (Spain)
Gemma Prat
Affiliation:
Fundació Althaia, Xarxa Assistencial Universitària de Manresa (Spain)
Miquel Casas
Affiliation:
Universitat Autónoma de Barcelona (Spain)
*
*Correspondence concerning this article should be addressed to Dominica Díez Marcet. Edifici Cesam. Divisió de Salut Mental. Fundació Althaia. Xarxa Assistencial Universitària de Manresa. c/ Dr. Llatjós s/n. 08243. Manresa (Spain). E-mail: ddiez@althaia.cat
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Abstract

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.

Keywords

pathological gamblinggenderpsychiatric comorbiditygambling behaviorretrospective study
Type
Research Article
Information
The Spanish Journal of Psychology , Volume 17 , 2014 , E101
Copyright
Copyright © Universidad Complutense de Madrid and Colegio Oficial de Psicólogos de Madrid 2014 

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