RESUMO
GOAL: This analysis was undertaken to assess the demographic and mental health characteristics of "normal" or non-problem gamblers versus non-gamblers in a representative community sample. SAMPLE STUDY: participants consisted of 557 North Central American Indian veterans. DATA COLLECTION: included a demographic and trauma questionnaire, a computer-based Diagnostic Interview Schedule for DSM-III-R, and a treatment history algorithm. FINDINGS: Univariate analyses revealed that gamblers had greater social competence (i.e., higher education, living with a spouse) and higher lifetime psychiatric morbidity. Binary regression analysis revealed that, compared to non-gamblers, gamblers were older, more highly educated, and more apt to be married. More gamblers showed evidence for lifetime risk-taking as evidenced by Antisocial Personality Disorder and Tobacco Dependence. CONCLUSIONS: Social achievement and disposable income function as prerequisites for "normal" gambling in this population, although "externalizing" or "risk-taking" disorders also serve as independent contributors to at least some gambling. The increased rate of "internalizing" or emotional disorders are only indirectly related to gambling, perhaps through increasing age or through the "externalizing" disorders.
Assuntos
Transtornos Disruptivos, de Controle do Impulso e da Conduta/epidemiologia , Jogo de Azar/psicologia , Indígenas Norte-Americanos/estatística & dados numéricos , Transtornos Mentais/epidemiologia , Saúde Mental , Veteranos/estatística & dados numéricos , Idoso , Alcoolismo/epidemiologia , Ansiedade/epidemiologia , Comorbidade , Depressão/epidemiologia , Feminino , Humanos , Masculino , Pessoa de Meia-Idade , Assunção de Riscos , Inquéritos e Questionários , Tabagismo/epidemiologia , Estados UnidosRESUMO
This community survey studied remission from pathological gambling (PG) among American Indian (AI) and Hispanic American (HA) veterans. Remission was defined as having a lifetime diagnosis of PG, but no gambling symptoms in the last year. Sample consisted of 1624 AI and Hispanic veterans. Instruments included demographic data, the computer-based algorithmic Quick Diagnostic Interview Schedule Symptom, and three symptom checklists, one each for substance related problems (MAST/AD), anxiety and depressive symptoms (BSI-57), and combat-related post-trauma symptoms (PCL/M). Remission was associated with absence of a current Axis 1 diagnosis, especially absence of a current post-traumatic stress disorder.
