Dissertations / Theses on the topic 'Compulsive gambling'

Dimensional theoretical models suggest that gambling disorder and eating disorders have two essential shared risk factors: impulsivity and compulsivity. In order to delve into the association between these factors, the main objectives of this thesis were: To study the interaction between different types of impulsivity in gambling and eating disorders. To evaluate the association between impulsivity and DSM-5 criteria used for the diagnosis of gambling disorder, the criterion of illegal acts and the three levels of severity of the disorder. To examine dimensions of compulsivity and the interaction between them and impulsivity levels in the specific case of the gambling disorder. The following conclusions can be drawn: 1) Clinical heterogeneity has been observed, especially taking into account impulsivity levels, between patients with anorexia nervosa of the restrictive subtype and anorexia nervosa of the binge eating/purge subtype. Therefore, the importance of separating the two subtypes of anorexia nervosa is confirmed. 2) Impulsivity and compulsivity can be considered two independent domains in gambling disorder, supporting the dimensional perspective of the impulsive-compulsive spectrum. 3) The multifactorial nature of both domains has been tested. 4) Impulsivity and compulsivity do not contribute to gambling disorder equitably, and impulsivity is more strongly associated with the disorder. 5) All dimensions of impulsivity seem to be interrelated. 6) An association between choice and trait impulsivity has been observed in young patients, corroborating that age is a key factor. 7) Response impulsivity is not significantly associated with the severity of gambling disorder. 8) There is a proven association between impulsivity, gambling disorder, and the commission of criminal acts related to gambling behavior. 9) Impulsive traits may be related to response to treatment for gambling disorder. 10) It was not possible to demonstrate that greater severity was associated with better treatment response, which would question the clinical applicability of DSM-5 criteria.
Los modelos teóricos dimensionales sugieren que el trastorno del juego y los trastornos de la conducta alimentaria tienen dos factores de riesgo compartidos esenciales: impulsividad y compulsividad. Para ahondar en la asociación entre estos factores, los principales objetivos de esta tesis fueron: Estudiar la interacción entre los diferentes tipos de impulsividad en el trastorno de juego y los trastornos de la conducta alimentaria. Evaluar la asociación entre la impulsividad y los criterios del DSM-5 utilizados para el diagnóstico del trastorno del juego, específicamente el criterio de actos ilegales y los tres niveles de gravedad del trastorno. Examinar las dimensiones de la compulsividad y la interacción entre ellas y los niveles de impulsividad en el caso específico del trastorno del juego. Se concluyó: 1) Se ha observado heterogeneidad clínica, especialmente teniendo en cuenta los niveles de impulsividad, entre pacientes con anorexia nerviosa del subtipo restrictivo y anorexia nerviosa del subtipo bulímico-purgativo. Por lo tanto, se confirma la importancia de separar los dos subtipos de anorexia nerviosa. 2) La impulsividad y la compulsividad pueden considerarse dos dominios independientes en el trastorno del juego, apoyando la perspectiva dimensional del espectro impulsivo compulsivo. 3) Se ha comprobado el carácter multifactorial de ambos constructos. 4) La impulsividad y la compulsividad no contribuyen al trastorno del juego de manera equitativa, siendo la impulsividad la más fuertemente asociada al trastorno. 5) Todas las dimensiones de la impulsividad parecen estar interrelacionadas. 6) Se ha observado una asociación entre la impulsividad de elección y la impulsividad rasgo en pacientes jóvenes, corroborando que la edad es un factor esencial. 7) La impulsividad de respuesta no está asociada significativamente con la gravedad del trastorno del juego. 8) Existe una asociación entre la impulsividad, el trastorno del juego y la comisión de delitos relacionados con la conducta de juego. 9) Los rasgos impulsivos están relacionados con la respuesta al tratamiento para el trastorno de juego. 10) No fue posible demostrar que una mayor gravedad estaba asociada con una mejor respuesta al tratamiento, lo que cuestionaría la aplicabilidad clínica de los criterios del DSM-5.

Pathological gambling (PG) is a chronic and progressive condition, defined as “persistent and recurrent maladaptive gambling behaviour”; it is currently classified among the Impulse control disorders (Not Elsewhere Classified) in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders – Fourth Edition - Text Revision (DSM-IV-TR). The diagnostic criteria for PG resemble those of both Substance use disorders (SUDs) and Compulsive disorders (in particular, Obsessive compulsive disorder [OCD]). The terms compulsivity and impulsivity are interchangeably used to describe difficulties in self-control leading to repetitive psychopathological behaviours; nonetheless, they represent two distinct constructs. Compulsive behaviours are driven by “a tendency to perform unpleasantly repetitive acts in a habitual or stereotyped manner to prevent perceived negative consequences, leading to functional impairment”, whereas impulsivity has been described as “a predisposition toward rapid, unplanned reactions to internal or external stimuli with diminished regard to the negative consequences of these reactions to the impulsive individual or others”. Features of both compulsivity and impulsivity are involved in PG phenomenology, and a large body of literature investigated these aspects mainly making use of clinical observation and results obtained through self-report questionnaires. PG can be conceptualized as a compulsive-impulsive spectrum disorder or as a behavioural addiction: these two theoretical frameworks have been proposed for PG categorization in DSM-5, thus and understanding which of them is better suited to PG symptoms is relevant for diagnostic classification issues. Although these two approaches are not mutually exclusive, adopting one rather than the other has important clinical implications. Recently, the importance of integrating phenotypic (i.e. phenomenological) and endophenotypic (i.e. behavioural/physiological) indicators in psychodiagnostic assessment has been highlighted. Endophenotypes are measures of the individual neuropsychological, neurophysiological and biochemical functioning, and consequently anomalies in endophenotypes are supposed to reflect impairments in the underlying neurocognitive processes. Impairments in motor inhibition ability and difficulties in delaying gratification and decision making, which are prefrontally-mediated cognitive functions, have been suggested to underlie problems in behavioural regulation (i.e. compulsive and impulsive behaviours). From this perspective, both compulsive and impulsive behaviours would represent: a. the performance of an action before its complete processing or the failure of interrupting already activated actions; b. a dysfunction in behavioural choices, which are perpetrated despite bad consequences for the individual. Therefore, cognitive measures of motor inhibition and decision making abilities may represent promising endophenotipic indicators of behavioural regulation, and deficits in these functions are hypothesized to underpin PG, OCD, and SUDs. The present dissertation was conducted in the light of these considerations, and following the recommendation that directly comparing PGs with OCD patients and individuals with SUDs can represent a viable way to identify the most suitable classification for PG. A group of treatment-seeking PGs was compared with patients with OCD, Alcohol dependents (ADs) and healthy controls (HCs) on both self-report questionnaires and cognitive measures of compulsivity and impulsivity. The main aims were to investigate similarities and differences between clinical groups in such measures, as well as potentially different patterns of response in cognitive tasks. The Go/Nogo task was used to assess motor inhibition ability, whereas the Iowa Gambling Task (IGT) was administered to evaluate decision making processes. A preliminary comparison between small groups of PGs and croupiers on the same measures was also conducted; croupiers were chosen as gambling represents a relevant activity for both groups of individuals, and also in the light of the higher risks of developing problem or pathological gambling observed in casino employees than in general population. Consequently, the study of compulsivity and impulsivity in croupiers may be helpful in identifying the factors potentially involved in the development of PG. The main results showed that PGs reported higher levels of both self-reported compulsivity and impulsivity than healthy individuals. Furthermore, a number of similarities between PGs, OCD patients and ADs in the phenotypic measures of both dimensions was observed. No evidence of impaired motor inhibition ability in PGs, OCD patients or ADs emerged. In regards to decision making processes, deficits in the IGT performance were found in PGs and ADs, whereas OCD patients did as good as HCs. Both PGs and ADs were characterized by a decline of their performance towards the end of the task, which indicated difficulties in the maintenance of learning to shift from disadvantageous to advantageous decisions. The comparison between PGs and croupiers revealed that the former obtained higher scores on measures of compulsivity, whereas the latter did not differ from HCs. However, both PGs and croupiers reported similar and higher self-reported impulsivity than HCs. As regards the cognitive tasks, no significant difference between groups emerged; nonetheless, IGT profiles of learning showed that PGs had a poor performance and croupiers differed from HCs in that they did not improve in the last block of the task. Several conclusions may be drawn from present results. First of all, data from self-report measures suggest that both the compulsive-impulsive spectrum hypothesis and the behavioural addiction one might be adequate for PG categorization, as compulsivity and impulsivity co-occur in PGs. Furthermore, the numerous analogies emerged between PGs, OCD patients and ADs further support to include the three of them in a common spectrum of disorders. On the other hand, IGT findings highlighted the presence of similar deficits in PGs and ADs. This result is in line with literature reporting dysfunctions in the brain circuitry underlying decision making ability, and therefore it supports the conceptualization of PG as an addictive disorder. Data emerged from the comparison between PGs and croupiers seem also to be consistent with this hypothesis, as probable vulnerability factors for addictions (i.e. impulsivity personality trait and potentially altered decision making processes) have been observed also in healthy individuals at risk for the development of PG. However, given the small samples sizes further studies are recommended. To conclude, results from the present dissertation indicate that both classifications are equally appropriate for PG, depending on the adopted indicators. Other studies are required to further clarify which is the best diagnostic category for PG.
Il Gioco d’azzardo patologico (GAP) è una condizione cronica e progressiva, definita come “una condotta persistente e ricorrente di gioco maladattivo”; attualmente è incluso tra i Disturbi del controllo degli impulsi (non altrove classificati) nel Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders – Fourth Edition - Text Revision (DSM-IV-TR). I criteri diagnostici per il GAP richiamano sia quelli tipici dei Disturbi da uso di sostanze (DUS) sia quelli che caratterizzano i disturbi compulsivi (in particolare, quelli del Disturbo ossessivo compulsivo [DOC]). I termini compulsività e impulsività vengono di norma utilizzati in maniera interscambiabile per definire le difficoltà nel controllo del comportamento che determinano la messa in atto di condotte psicopatologiche in maniera ripetuta e persistente; tuttavia, con essi si fa riferimento a due costrutti distinti. Per compulsività si intende la “tendenza a mettere in atto comportamenti ripetitivi in modo automatico o stereotipato, al fine di prevenire eventuali conseguenze negative, che determina compromissione del funzionamento”; d’altro canto, l’impulsività viene generalmente descritta come la “predisposizione a reagire a stimoli interni o esterni in maniera rapida e non pianificata, prestando scarsa considerazione a ciò che di negativo può derivare, per sé e per gli altri, dall’esecuzione di tali azioni”. Nella fenomenologia del GAP sono coinvolte caratteristiche sia compulsive che impulsive; vari autori hanno indagato tali aspetti avvalendosi primariamente di strumenti quali l’osservazione clinica e la somministrazione di questionari di autovalutazione. Sulla base della letteratura, il GAP può essere concettualizzato sia come un disturbo appartenente allo spettro compulsivo-impulsivo, sia come una dipendenza comportamentale. Entrambi questi quadri teorici sono stati presi in considerazione per la futura categorizzazione del GAP all’interno del DSM-5: comprendere quale sia il migliore è fondamentale da un punto di vista diagnostico. Sebbene i due approcci non siano mutualmente esclusivi, infatti, adottare l’uno piuttosto che l’altro ha importanti risvolti a livello clinico. Di recente si è riconosciuta la necessità di integrare indicatori di tipo sia fenotipico (i.e. fenomenologici) sia endofenotipico (i.e. comportamentali/fisiologici) nel corso dell’assessment psicodiagnostico. Gli endofenotipi sono delle misure del funzionamento neuropsicologico, neurofisiologico e biochimico dell’individuo; di conseguenza, anomalie riscontrabili a livello endofenotipico riflettono la presenza di una compromissione nei processi cognitivi sottostanti. E’ stato suggerito che la presenza di deficit in due funzioni esecutive mediate dalla corteccia prefrontale, quali l’abilità di inibizione della risposta motoria e l’abilità di presa di decisione, sia implicata nelle difficoltà di auto-regolazione comportamentale (i.e., comportamenti compulsivi e impulsivi) che caratterizzano particolari categorie di individui. Da questo punto di vista, i comportamenti di tipo compulsivo e impulsivo sarebbero da intendersi come: a. la conseguenza dell’emissione di una risposta precoce, messa in atto prima che uno specifico stimolo sia stato completamente processato, o il fallimento nell’inibizione di una risposta già iniziata; oppure b. la presenza di processi decisionali disfunzionali, che persistono indipendentemente dal fatto che le conseguenze del comportamento attuato siano negative o non ottimali. Per tale motivo, misure cognitive delle abilità di inibizione della risposta motoria e di presa di decisione potrebbero rappresentare promettenti indicatori endofenotipici della regolazione comportamentale; è stato infatti ipotizzato che le problematiche comportamentali manifestate da giocatori d’azzardo, pazienti con DOC e individui con DUS siano legate alla presenza di deficit in tali funzioni. La presente tesi di dottorato è stata realizzata sulla base di queste considerazioni, e alla luce del fatto che un confronto diretto tra giocatori d’azzardo, pazienti con DOC e individui con DUS possa rappresentare una via percorribile al fine di identificare la classificazione diagnostica più adatta per il GAP. Un gruppo di pazienti con GAP è stato messo a confronto con un gruppo di pazienti con DOC, un gruppo di dipendenti da alcol e uno di individui sani avvalendosi sia di questionari di autovalutazione che di prove cognitive atte a valutare compulsività e impulsività. Gli obiettivi principali erano l’indagine di somiglianze e differenze tra i tre gruppi clinici in tali dimensioni, e l’analisi degli di stili di risposta di ciascun gruppo alle prove cognitive. Per misurare l’abilità di inibizione della risposta motoria è stato impiegato un paradigma Go/Nogo, mentre per valutare i processi di presa di decisione si è utilizzato l’Iowa Gambling Task (IGT). Inoltre, i dati relativi a prove self-report e cognitive di un piccolo gruppo di giocatori d’azzardo sono stati confrontati con quelli ottenuti da un gruppo di croupier. Il gioco d’azzardo rappresenta l’attività principale per entrambe le categorie di individui; inoltre, è stato riscontrato che i croupier hanno un rischio di sviluppare condotte di gioco d’azzardo problematico o patologico maggiore rispetto a quello rilevato nella popolazione generale. Di conseguenza, esaminare caratteristiche di compulsività e impulsività in tale gruppo di individui può rivelarsi utile al fine di individuare i fattori potenzialmente coinvolti nello sviluppo del disturbo. I risultati principali hanno evidenziato maggiori livelli sia di compulsività che di impulsività nei pazienti con GAP rispetto ai controlli sani. Inoltre, i tre gruppi clinici si sono caratterizzati per punteggi molto simili tra loro nei questionari di autovalutazione, sia rispetto alle caratteristiche compulsive che a quelle impulsive. I tre gruppi clinici non hanno dimostrato la presenza di deficit nell’abilità della risposta motoria. Per quanto riguarda i processi di presa decisionale, invece, i pazienti con GAP e i dipendenti da alcol hanno mostrato una prestazione complessivamente deficitaria rispetto ai controlli sani, mentre nei pazienti con DOC non si sono riscontrate difficoltà. La prestazione dei giocatori d’azzardo e dei dipendenti da alcol si è caratterizzata per un declino verso la fine della prova, il che è indicativo della presenza di deficit nei processi di mantenimento dell’apprendimento: entrambi i gruppi tendono quindi a preferire le scelte svantaggiose a quelle vantaggiose. Dal confronto tra pazienti con GAP e croupier è emerso che i primi si caratterizzavano per la presenza di compulsività rispetto agli individui sani, mentre i secondi non hanno mostrato differenze rispetto ai controlli. Sia i giocatori che i croupier hanno invece riportato punteggi di impulsività auto-riferita comparabili e significativamente superiori rispetto a quelli ottenuti dal gruppo di controllo. Rispetto alle prove cognitive, i tre gruppi hanno ottenuto prestazioni simili. Tuttavia, l’analisi dei profili di apprendimento all’IGT ha evidenziato come i pazienti con GAP abbiano conseguito una prestazione tendenzialmente deficitaria rispetto agli altri gruppi; inoltre i croupier, a differenza dei controlli sani, non hanno mostrato un miglioramento nell’ultimo blocco della prova. Ciononostante, tali differenze non raggiungono la significatività statistica. Sulla base dei presenti risultati, è possibile trarre alcune conclusioni. In primo luogo, quanto emerso dalla somministrazione dei questionari di autovalutazione suggerisce che sia l’ipotesi dello spettro compulsivo-impulsivo, sia la concettualizzazione del GAP come dipendenza comportamentale potrebbero essere adeguate ai fini della categorizzazione del disturbo: infatti, caratteristiche di compulsività e impulsività coesistono nei pazienti con GAP. Inoltre, le numerose somiglianze riscontrate tra pazienti con GAP, individui con DOC e dipendenti da alcol forniscono ulteriore sostegno alla possibilità di includere queste tre condizioni in un medesimo spettro di disturbi. D’altro canto, i risultati ottenuti tramite l’IGT hanno messo in luce che giocatori d’azzardo e dipendenti da alcol si caratterizzano per deficit analoghi. Ciò è in linea con i dati di letteratura, che riportano la presenza di simili alterazioni nel funzionamento dei circuiti cerebrali sottostanti all’abilità di presa di decisione in queste due categorie cliniche; da questo punto di vista, quindi, classificare il GAP come una dipendenza potrebbe essere più appropriato. I dati emersi dal confronto tra pazienti con GAP e croupier sembrano inoltre in linea con tale ipotesi, dal momento che alcuni dei probabili fattori di vulnerabilità per le dipendenze (personalità impulsiva e processi di presa decisionale potenzialmente alterati) sono stati osservati anche in una categoria di individui sani particolarmente a rischio di sviluppare il disturbo. Tuttavia, data la scarsa numerosità campionaria, questo risultato è da intendersi come puramente preliminare; è auspicabile che ulteriori indagini vadano ad approfondirne la validità. Quanto emerso dal presente lavoro consente pertanto di affermare che entrambe le classificazioni proposte sono appropriate, a seconda che si utilizzino indicatori fenotipici o endofenotipici. La conduzione di altri studi si rende necessaria, al fine di chiarire quale sia la categoria diagnostica migliore per l’inquadramento del GAP.

The aims of this chapter were fourfold. Firstly, the chapter aimed to contextualise this study by providing the reader with the relevant background information. Secondly, the chapter aimed to orientate the reader to the nature of this study, the research problem and aims, as well as provide motivation for this research. Thirdly, it presented an outline of the research process while situating the study within a theoretical framework. Fourthly, to provide the structure and outline of the chapters that is to unfold. Chapter Two will follow with an overview of the ecological perspective as it relates to human development and as the precursor to a more extensive discussion of the perspective of Urie Bronfenbrenner (1979). Bronfenbrenner‟s (1979) ecological outlook will take into consideration the constituents of influence in the lives of the participants of the present study.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Oregon, 2005.
Typescript. Includes vita and abstract. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 307-315). Also available for download via the World Wide Web; free to University of Oregon users.

There is growing research evidence and public concern over the burgeoning of disorders which share common features with substance addictions. In order to investigate the presence and role of addiction features in disorders outside of substance addictions, symptoms of addiction were explored within three addiction groups: alcohol dependence (AD), an established addiction (n = 24); pathological gambling (PG) a disorder with growing empirical support as an addiction (n = 20); and compulsive shopping (CS), a proposed 'novel' addiction(n = 20). Participants were recruited from either the general population, or from the Auckland Salvation Army Bridge residential alcohol and drug treatment programme; Salvation Army Oasis Gambling Service; Pacific Peoples Addiction Service Incorporated; or Te Kahui Hauora O Ngati Koata Trust. Participants completed a battery of self-report measures comprising a demographics questionnaire; Addictive Disorder Questionnaire (ADQ); anxiety and depression subscales of the Symptom Checklist 90 Revised (SCL-90R); Barratt Impulsivity Scale II-r; and substance specific adaptations of the Yale-Brown Obsessive Compulsive Scale (Y-BOCS). Three general categories of addiction symptoms: physiological, salience and dyscontrol, were identified as broad aspects of addiction, common across all three groups. Measurable aspects of addiction, including impulsivity, obsessions, anxiety and depression were found to be endorsed similarly across the three addictions, irrespective of the severity of their addiction. Compulsions were found to be higher in the AD group. Higher anxiety was found to be correlated with higher addiction in the behavioural addictions (CS and PG), whereas depression and anxiety were associated with higher addiction severity in the AD group. The results provide support for broadening addiction diagnostic definitions, to be more encompassing of the psychological and physiological experiences of each symptom; and developing different diagnostic categories for non-substance addictions that reflect the severity of the addiction. Results also provide evidence for developmental phases of addiction, from an early 'hedonistic' impulsive phase, to a compulsive phase, in which increased dyscontrol, mood and anxiety, marks the severity of the addiction.

ABSTRACT This research investigated Chinese international students' gambling experiences in New Zealand. It explored why some students become involved in gambling and how their gambling behaviour changes over time. Initial and follow-up interviews were conducted with nine male and three female students. Initial interviews focused on participants' gambling biographies in China and New Zealand. Cultural influences on their gambling experiences, and possible links between the development of gambling problems and their study experiences in New Zealand, were discussed. Follow-up interviews gathered further information on participants' gambling experiences, paying particular attention to their gambling activities over the six months prior to, and then after, the initial interviews. The methodology and analysis in this study were informed by a narrative approach. Findings suggest that Chinese international students rarely reported that they had problems relating to gambling in China. However, some participants in this study presented as problem gamblers in New Zealand. Study shock, acculturation stress, not feeling welcomed by the host society and achievement anxiety, all played a part in participants' problem gambling in New Zealand. These participants claimed that they usually started gambling recreationally, but then gradually shifted to self-reported problem gamblers. Problem gamblers were distinguished by prolonged gambling hours, wagering greater amounts of money, an augmented craving for winning money, and an inability to stop gambling at will in a single session. In this study, many participants who might have a gambling problem, had achieved some success in changing their gambling behaviour. Filial piety, acknowledgement of the importance of family, peer models, the experience of success, and financial hardship were some of the catalysts for stopping gambling. In addition, support from families, the community, professional services and exclusion programmes also assisted participants to address problems related to gambling. Successful re-rooting in New Zealand is significant in participants' post-change life. Positive post-change lifestyles involving aspects such as spirituality, music, study and work, supported Chinese international students to maintain change. This research demonstrates multiple levels of analysis, which adds to our knowledge about the socio-cultural meanings of gambling among Chinese international students. A number of recommendations are made for preventing and reducing the negative consequences of gambling for students.

Dissertation (Ph.D.) -- The Institute for Clinical Social Work, 1998.
A dissertation submitted to the faculty of the Institute of Clinical Social Work in partial fulfillment for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy. Includes bibliographical references.

Pathological gambling is a treatable, but complex addiction. Defined as out of control gambling that disrupts relationships, employment and/or education. People from all social, economic and cultural groups are affected. Pathological gambling is a problem throughout this country, and in Oregon 61,000 people are estimated to have this disorder. There is a lack of information and extensive misinformation about gambling; and gambling has, historically, been considered a moral weakness. Treatment for pathological gambling is a recent development, and still is not widely available. Pathological gambling is pervasive, poorly understood, and costly and deserves further study. Existing literature on pathological gambling, both the profile of the disorder and treatment is thoroughly reviewed. The portrait of the pathological gambler is contradictory. The only clear demographic trend is that the majority of pathological gamblers are men. Psychodynamic theories explain pathological gambling through developmental and psychological determinants. Behaviorists and learning theorists delineate a series of environmental and physiological factors which combine to "teach" pathological gambling behavior. Researchers who study pathological gambling have enumerated three to four phases of progression of the disorder. There are a variety of disorders and physical problems correlated to pathological gambling, and depression and dual addictions are clearly an issue for many. GA has a high drop out rate and tends to work better for pathological gamblers who have few or no relapses. The intake interview should: initiate the therapeutic alliance, provide crucial data for assessment and diagnosis, and provide information about the nature and scope of the treatment. Individual therapy has a relatively long and respected history as helpful treatment for pathological gambling. Group therapy is a common and effective mode for treatment of pathological gambling. Psychodynamic treatment of is popular and effective, works at achieving abstinence, and helping the pathological gambler make deeper personality changes. Cognitive-behavioral approaches have a role in helping pathological gamblers change irrational beliefs surrounding gambling and themselves. A program which uses cognitive-behavioral, behavioral and psychodynamic approaches in individual, group and family/marital counseling settings designed by author is presented and discussed. The program has four stages and includes an education component.

Fifty-two individuals 60 years of age or older participated in this research study. This study is of significance because as opportunities to gamble are becoming more available and accessible, older adults are participating in gambling activities for leisure and recreational benefits. This phenomenon is of concern because older adults may be at risk for problems related to gambling that they may not be able to recover from. Furthermore, senior center directors and social workers need to know how to assess, evaluate and intervene with older adults who may have gambling problems or problems related to their gambling behavior.

Thesis (M.S.) -- Central Connecticut State University, 2008.
Thesis advisor: Damon Mitchell. "... in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science in Criminal Justice." Includes bibliographical references (leaves 27-29). Also available via the World Wide Web.

Gambling about money is a frequent phenomenon in our modern community’s. The gambling has for some people resulted in a compulsive gambling. These consequences affects not only the gambler but also have impact on his or hers relatives. The purpose of this study is to describe how a small selection off relatives to persons with a compulsive gambling experience the gambling consequences in there life. The empirical material consists of five interviews with five relatives to persons with a gambling dependence. Coping theory, theory of crises and a systemic perspective has been used to analyse the empirical material. The results that appear are that the relatives have all described early signs that they at the time could not interpret. They have felt that the gambler has been absent in mind. The discovery of the gambling describes as a chocking experience. They have created there own cooping strategies. The relatives show a great amount of strength and they have drawn positive experiences from a difficult reality like better relations and communication with the gambler, and can see that they have to take care of them selfs and not only care for the gambler. The study also indicates that family ties are hard to brake, especially between parents and there children.