The Psychological and Behavioral Characteristics of the Pathological Gamblers in Horse Racing / 신경정신의학

OBJECTIVES: We investigated the socio-demographic, psychological and behavioral characteristics of the pathological gamblers in horse racing. METHODS: Among 61 horse-racing gamblers, 20 pathological gamblers were diagnosed by DSM-IV criteria, and compared with 18 healthy horse racing spectators. RESULTS: 1) The education level of the pathological gamblers was lower and the duraton of gambling history longer than the healthy horse racing spectators. 2) The number and the amount of the bet of pathological gamblers in one day were higher than those of the healthy horse racing spectator. Especially, the highest amount of money gained of the pathological gambler were significantly larger than that of the healthy horse racing spectators. 3) The pathological gamblers bet with the purpose of restoring loss sum, gaining money, and avoiding dysphoric and negative mood. To be opposed, the healthy horse racing spectator play for rest, pleasure and excitement seeking. 4) The healthy horse racing spectators enjoy pleasure and euphoric mood through horse racing more than the pathological gamblers. However, the pathological gamblers experience repentance after game, and irritable and unstable mood while they were betting. 5) The pathological gamblers could control impulse less than the healthy horse racing spectator because of being habituated to the game. CONCLUSIONS: Horse racing is one of the most popular and legitimate leisure and gambling activities in Korea. In such a legitimate gambling activity, serious pathological gamblers are found frequently and their psychological and societal problems are increasing. Therefore, the prevention and the therapeutic intervention for the pathological gambling would be urgent.

Pharmacological Treatment of Alcoholism

This review focused on the pharmacological treatment of alcoholism, especially alcoholism-related mental disorder. The pharmacological agent for alcoholism can be divided into the following categories : anticraving agent, aversive agent, agent to treat acute alcohol withdrawal, agent to diminish drinking by treating associated psychiatric pathology, agent to induce sobriety in intoxicated individuals. Following trends are included in new trends of pharmacological treatment of alcoholism. What are precise conditions amenable to pharmacological intervention? : How can psychosocial and behavioral intervention be integrated with pharmacotherapy to enhance treatment outcome?: Is the concept of "matching" specific pharmacotherapy treatment to different aspect of alcoholism more efficacious than a more generalized medicational approach to treatment? One of the most important factors for alcoholics treatment is good and proper therapeutic relationship with patients and setting up individually specialized treatment program is also important.

Clinical Characteristics of Female Alcoholic Inpatients in a Mental Hospital / 신경정신의학

OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to provide a basic data of female alcoholics by understanding the gender differences of the clinical characteristics including demographic characteristics, alcoholic history, family history, drinking patterns, reasons for drinking, and comorbidity in male and female alcoholics. It also ained to establish the therapeutic plans through understanding the patterns of disease and the patterns of family cooperation in female alcoholics. METHODS: The study subjects consisted of 51 male and female alcoholics admitted to a mental hospital from January 1, 1991 to May 31, 1996. Subjects were age- and sex-matched. We reviewed patients' charts and administered questionaires. Mean age of female alcoholics was 44.45+/-11.02 years and that of male alcoholics was 44.17+/-10.08 years. All male and female patients met with the DSM-III-R criteria of alcohol dependence. RESULTS: Female alcoholics were later in drinking-onset age, and to had shorter duration of previous drinking history and less average amount of daily drinking than male alcoholics. And female alcoholics were found to seek treatment more voluntarily, and to have less frequent delirium tremens after admission and less medical complications such as hepatitis and diabetes mellitus. Also female alcoholics had more frustration experiences of separation such as death of family member, divorce, and husband's physical abuse. Female alcoholic's families had more uncooperative attitude toward treatment such as threat to divorce after admission. CONCLUSIONS: There were many differences between male and female alcoholics of demographic characteristics, clinical characteristics, and patterns of family cooperation. Female alcoholics were found to have more experiences of psychosocial frustration including death of family member and marital conflicts, and more uncooperative attitude of her family members. Therefore, it is required that therapists consider the characteristics of female alcoholics upon treatment and prevention, and have more concern about female alcoholics.