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.

The Preliminary Study on the Validation of Schizotypal Personality Questionnaire-Korean Version / 신경정신의학

In order to product and develop questionnaire which can assess the schizotypal personality by model of criteria in DSM-III-R it was presented 1311owing questions in this study. First, far the validation and manufacture of scale and sub-subscale that assess overall feature, nine characteristics of the schizotypal personality disorder, this study was concerned with validity, reliability and factor-analysis results of schizotypal personality questionnaire. Second, we would be present how schizotypal personality disorder trend is connected with trait-anxiety, hopelessness and self-concept. Also the difference Is compared with. Finally, 396(male 216 Ss/53,8%, female 180 Ss/45.5%) college students with mean age 21.2 years were sampled. Raine's schizotypal personality questionnaire(SOQ) which assess nine characterisitics of schizotypal personality disorder in DSM-III-R was translated and used. In this results, Raine's schizotypal personality questionnaire was appeared to have high internal validity, split-half reliability and test-retest reliability Also, 6 factors were affirmed by empirical confirmation through factor-analysis. 6 factors have been very reliable internal validity that ranges from .78 to .83. In these 6 factors, idea of reference, odd or eccentric behavior and odd speech were corresponded to the category model after DSM-III-B in Raine's scale. 'Cognitive, perceptive' dimension was centered of factor 1, 'Emotive, affective' dimension was centered of factor 2, social anxiety and constricted affect were constituted to 2nd factor. No close friends, schizoid trend and suspiciousness of schizotypal characteristics were constituted to 3rd factor by' interpersonal relationship' dimension. These empirical outcomes which confirmed through factor-analysis were very valid and connected much to Raine's scale which assessed schizotypal personality disorder, thus possibility of development and manufacture of schizotypal personality disorder scale through item revision was lighten. In 2nd study the higher schizotypal personality disorder trend, trait-anxiety and hoplessness were higher. But on the contrary, self-concept was lower. The group of high score in schizotypal personality questionnaire had more trait-anxiety and hopelessness than the group of low score in schizotypal personality questionnaire. Contrastly, positive self-concept was high in the group of low score. Also, the most predictable variable to the trait-anxiety was factor 2, predictable power R2 of factor 2 was 29.1%. To the hopelessness, factor 2 was the most powerful predictable variable. Predictable power of factor 2 was 11.2%, also. In self-concept, factor 2 explained 20.8% of self-concept, thus it was presented that factor 2 had the most powerful explanatory quantity. In these consequences, the factors which have meaningful connection to the trait-anxiety, hopelessness and low self-concept within 6 factors were really factor 2, 3, 1. Among these factors, 'Emotive' feature of factor 2 including social anxiety and constricted affect have the most effect on trait-anxiety, hopelessness and serf-concept. And next to factor 2, the isolated interpersonal relation which include no close friends and schizoid trend was some influential variable. Also peculiar, unusual perceptual experience, eccentric belief and magical thinking had some effect though small. The college students who had strong schizotypal personality trend had more social anxiety and more constricted emotional empathic ability, less self-expression, less social skill than common college students. These elements threaten, interrupt and retard identity establishment and intimacy-seeking which are important developmental tasks within this period. These experiences is accepted to ego-dystonic to schizotypal college students who have some or moderate reality testing, adaptive ability. Moreover, These peoples would feel locus of control externally, not internally and would have more control-failure experiences. All these elements elevate anxiety level, give rise to low self-concept and low expectation to the future. These outcomes all confirmed questions which presented in this study.