National Problem Gambling Awareness Week - Problem Gambling Information

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Do you measure for impulsivity when screening for gambling? Hightened impulsivity is a trait that could signal a future gambling addiction for social or problem gamblers, even though they may not meet DSM-IV criteria for pathological behavior. During NPGAW, we encourage you to screen for impulsivity and to ask your colleagues and friends in the medical field to screen for problem gambling as well as impulsivity.

You can learn more about who is screening for impulsivity from a recent study done by AAAP:

PDF(AAAAP Study)

You can’t smell it on their breath, or see it in their eyes, but 1 in 10 primary care patients may have a gambling problem. Two simple questionscan help reveal this hidden addiction. Ask your adult patients:

Have you ever lied about how much you gamble?
Have you ever felt the need to bet more and more money?

PDF(484Kb)

Problem gambling could present as headaches, stomachaches, anxiety, depression,or sleep disturbances. Catch the underlying problem and utilize local resources.A referral to gambling treatment can make all the difference. Go to the TOOLSsection of this site for screening tools.

Place Your Bets: Assessing for Problem Gambling Pays Off

Download this file for an editorial on this subject.

EditorialPDF (103Kb)

How Problem Gambling Affects Health

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