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CNS Drugs
Published in: CNS Drugs 6/2000

01-06-2000 | Disease Management

Epidemiology, Pathophysiology and Treatment of Pathological Gambling

Authors: Dr Carlos Blanco, Angela Ibáñez, Jerónimo Sáiz-Ruiz, Carmen Blanco-Jerez, Edward V. Nunes

Published in: CNS Drugs | Issue 6/2000

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Abstract

Pathological gambling is a prevalent disorder that is gaining attention from patients, clinicians and policy makers. Aetiological factors that have been related to pathological gambling include: (i) abnormalities in the serotonergic, dopaminergic and noradrenergic systems; (ii) cognitive distortions; and (iii) a reinforcement of the gambling activity by either episodic gains or the excitement that accompanies gambling. Male gender, urban residence, lower income and the presence of a comorbid psychiatric disorder (particularly substance abuse) appear to constitute risk factors for the presence of the disorder.
A number of treatments have been suggested as potentially effective: Gamblers Anonymous, behavioural therapy, manualised cognitive therapy and several medications. At present, only manualised cognitive therapy and the selective serotonin (5-hydroxytryptamine; 5-HT) reuptake inhibitor fluvoxamine have shown efficacy in systematic (albeit small) studies. However, much research remains to be done to better understand the psychophysiology of pathological gambling, to firmly demonstrate the efficacy of the different proposed treatment approaches, and to establish criteria for treatment selection for individual patients.
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Metadata
Title
Epidemiology, Pathophysiology and Treatment of Pathological Gambling
Authors
Dr Carlos Blanco
Angela Ibáñez
Jerónimo Sáiz-Ruiz
Carmen Blanco-Jerez
Edward V. Nunes
Publication date
01-06-2000
Publisher
Springer International Publishing
Published in
CNS Drugs / Issue 6/2000
Print ISSN: 1172-7047
Electronic ISSN: 1179-1934
DOI
https://doi.org/10.2165/00023210-200013060-00002

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