Top

Published in:

01-09-2011 | Original Paper

Comments from the Trenches: Proposed Changes to the DSM-V Classification of Pathological Gambling

Authors: George B. Mitzner, James P. Whelan, Andrew W. Meyers

Published in: Journal of Gambling Studies | Issue 3/2011

Abstract

The proposed DSM-V changes related to the pathological gambling diagnosis hold far-reaching implications, yet these modifications have been met with little public attention. This letter addresses the three changes proposed including the diagnosis’ reclassification alongside other addictive behaviors, the lowering of the pathological gambling threshold to the endorsement of 4 symptoms, and the removal of the “illegal acts” criterion. Support for the initial change is well documented, but there is evidence to suggest that the latter two changes should be reconsidered.

Abbot, M., Volberg, R., Bellringer, M., & Reith, G. (2004). A review of research on aspects of problems gambling: Final report. Auckland: Gambling Research Centre Auckland University of Technology.

American Psychiatric Association. (1980). Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders (3rd ed.). Washington, DC: Author.

American Psychiatric Association. (1994). Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders (4th ed.). Washington, DC: Author.

American Psychiatric Association. (2010). DSM-5 development: Proposed revision of pathological gambling. Retrieved May 18, 2010, from http://www.dsm5.org/ProposedRevisions/Pages/proposedrevision.aspx?rid=210.

Barnes, G. M., Welte, J. W., Hoffman, J. H., & Dintcheff, B. A. (2005). Shared predictors of youthful gambling, substance use, and delinquency. Psychology of Addictive Behaviors, 19(2), 165–174.PubMedCrossRef

Beaudoin, C., & Cox, B. (1999). Characteristics of problem gambling in a Canadian context: A preliminary study using a DSM-IV-based questionnaire. Canadian Journal of Psychiatry, 44, 483–487.

DeCaria, C., Hollander, M. E., Begaz, T., Schmeidler, J., Wong, C. M., Cartwright, C. & Mosovich, S. (1998). Reliability and validity of a pathological gambling modification of the Yale-Brown Obsessive Compulsive Scale (pathological gambling-YBOCS): preliminary findings: Paper presented at the 12th National Conference on Problem Gambling, Las Vegas, NV.

Hodgins, D., Wynne, H., & Makarchuk, K. (1999). Pathways to recovery from gambling problems: Follow-up from a general population survey. Journal of Gambling Studies, 15, 93–104.CrossRef

Kahler, C., & Strong, D. (2006). A Rasch model analysis of DSM-IV alcohol abuse and dependence items in the National Epidemiologic Survey on Alcohol and Related Conditions. Alcoholism, Clinical and Experimental Research, 30, 1165–1175.PubMedCrossRef

Korn, D. A., & Shaffer, H. J. (1999). Gambling and the health of the public: Adopting a public health perspective. Journal of Gambling Studies, 15, 289–365.PubMedCrossRef

Langenbucher, J., Labouvie, E., Martin, C., Sanjuan, P., Bavly, L., & Kirisci, L. (2004). An application of item response theory analysis to alcohol, cannabis, and cocaine criteria in DSM-IV. Journal of Abnormal Psychology, 113, 72–80.PubMedCrossRef

Moore, S., & Ohtsuka, K. (1999). Beliefs about control over gambling among young people, and their relation to problem gambling. Psychology of Addictive Behaviors, 13, 339–347.CrossRef

National Research Council. (1999). Pathological gambling: A critical review. Washington, DC: National Academy Press.

Petry, N. (2005). Problem gambling: Etiology, comorbidity and treatment. Washington, DC: American Psychological Association.CrossRef

Petry, N. (2006). Should the scope of addictive behaviors be broadened to include pathological gambling? Addiction, 101(S1), 152–160.PubMedCrossRef

Potenza, M. (2006). Should addictive disorders include non-substance-related conditions? Addiction, 101(S1), 142–151.PubMedCrossRef

Potenza, M., Koran, L., & Pallanti, S. (2009). The relationship between impulse-control disorders and obsessive-compulsive disorder: A current understanding and future directions in research. Psychiatry Research, 170, 22–31.PubMedCrossRef

Shaffer, H. J., Hall, M. N., & Vander Bilt, J. (1999). Estimating the prevalence of disordered gambling behavior in the United States and Canada: A research synthesis. American Journal of Public Health, 89, 1369–1376.PubMedCrossRef

Slutske, W. (2006). Natural recovery and treatment-seeking in pathological gambling: Results of Two US. National surveys. American Journal of Psychiatry, 163, 297–302.PubMedCrossRef

Slutske, W., Jackson, K., & Sher, K. (2003). The natural history of problem gambling from age 18 to 29. Journal of Abnormal Psychology, 112, 263–274.PubMedCrossRef

Stinchfield, R. (2003). Reliability, validity, and classification accuracy of a measure of DSM-IV diagnostic criteria for pathological gambling. American Journal of Psychiatry, 160, 180–182.PubMedCrossRef

Strong, D. R., & Kahler, C. W. (2007). Evaluation of the continuum of gambling problems using the DSM–IV. Addiction, 102, 713–721.PubMedCrossRef

Toce-Gerstein, M., Gerstein, D. R., & Volberg, R. A. (2003). A hierarchy of gambling disorders in the community. Addiction, 98, 1661–1672.PubMedCrossRef

Vitaro, F., Brendgen, M., Ladouceur, R., & Tremblay, R. E. (2001). Gambling, delinquency, and drug use during adolescence: Mutual influences and common risk factors. Journal of Gambling Studies, 17, 171–190.PubMedCrossRef

Watson, A., Whelan, J., Meyers, A., West, R., & Winfree, W. (2010, November). An exploratory study of gambling, crime, and gambling-related crime among at-risk adolescents. Poster to be presented at the annual meeting of the Association of Behavioral and Cognitive Therapies, San Fransisco, CA.

Whelan, J., Steenbergh, T., & Meyers, A. (2007). Problem and pathological gambling. Ashland, OH, US: Hogrefe & Huber Publications.

Title: Comments from the Trenches: Proposed Changes to the DSM-V Classification of Pathological Gambling
Authors: George B. Mitzner
James P. Whelan
Andrew W. Meyers
Publication date: 01-09-2011
Publisher: Springer US
Published in: Journal of Gambling Studies / Issue 3/2011
Electronic ISSN: 1573-3602
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10899-010-9225-x

Keynote webinar | Spotlight on medication adherence

Springer Medicine

Comments from the Trenches: Proposed Changes to the DSM-V Classification of Pathological Gambling

Abstract

Keynote webinar | Spotlight on medication adherence

Springer Medicine

Abstract

Please log in to get access to this content

Other articles of this Issue 3/2011

An Examination of the Relationship Between Gambling and Antisocial Behavior

The Social Contagion of Gambling: How Venue Size Contributes to Player Losses

The Efficacy of a Modified Theory of Reasoned Action to Explain Gambling Behavior in College Students

Affective and Cognitive Correlates of Gambling Behavior in University Students

Coping with Guilt and Shame After Gambling Loss

Gambling Motivation and Passion: A Comparison Study of Recreational and Pathological Gamblers