[Risk of pathological gambling, Associated factors and mental disorders in youth from Medellin - Colombia]. / Riesgo de Juego Patológico. Factores y trastornos mentales asociados en jóvenes de Medellín - Colombia.

AIMS: To study the risk of pathological gambling and its possible relation with mental disorders and school and family problems in a population of school pupils from the city of Medellin (Colombia), with a view to providing guidance for mental health care. METHOD: Cross-sectional study; sample comprises 3486 students aged 10 to 19 years selected from all the educational institutions in the city. The sample is probabilistic and represents an estimated population of 290,000 young people from Medellin. The SOGS instrument (South Oaks Gambling Screening) was used for screening risk and likelihood of problem gambling. The analytic stage assessed possible associated factors such as mental disorders, alcohol use and drug use, with statistical significance levels of 5% and prevalence rates with 95% confidence intervals. RESULTS: A total of 48.6% were without problems, 37.6% were at risk and 13.8% were possible pathological gamblers. Males were more at risk than females (2.5:1), and the highest proportion of possible pathological gamblers was in the 10-14 age group (58.7%), vs. the 15-19 group (41.3%). Pathological gambling in young people is associated in this study with: anxiety OR=2.1(1.69-2.60), depression OR=1.73(1.33-2.24), suicide attempt OR=1.85(1.20-2.85), impulsivity OR=3.48(2.85-4.26), violent behavior OR=4.64(3.57-5.58), and problems at school OR=2.46(1.97-3.06); recent use of cigarettes, drunkenness and illegal drugs (use/addiction) were identified as associated risk factors, p value: <0.05. CONCLUSIONS: Pathological gambling risk is high in this young population, and is associated with mental disorders, use of psychoactive substances, and school and family problems. This situation suggests the need for large-scale and comprehensive preventive and therapeutic intervention measures for addressing the problem.

Riesgo de Juego Patológico. Factores y trastornos mentales asociados en jóvenes de Medellín - Colombia / Risk of Pathological Gambling, Associated factors and mental disorders in youth from Medellin - Colombia

Objetivos: Investigar el riesgo de juego patológico y su posible relación con trastornos mentales, problemas escolares y familiares, en una población escolarizada de la ciudad de Medellín (Colombia), para orientar la atención en salud mental. Método: Estudio de corte transversal; muestra de 3.486 estudiantes de 10 a 19 años, probabilística y representativa de una población de 290.000 jóvenes. El instrumento SOGS (South Oaks Gambling Screening), fue utilizado para evaluar el riesgo y probabilidad de juego patológico; en etapa analítica se evaluó la posible asociación con trastornos mentales, uso de alcohol y drogas para juego patológico, descritas con significancia estadística de 5% y proporciones de prevalencia con intervalos de confianza del 95%.Resultados: 48,6% sin problemas, 37,6% están en riesgo y 13,8% son posibles jugadores patológicos. Hombres tienen mayor riesgo que las mujeres (2,5:1) y la mayor proporción de posibles jugadores patológicos pertenecen al grupo de 10-14 años (58,7%) vs. 15-19 (41,3%). El Juego Patológico presenta asociación con ansiedad RD=2,1(1,69-2,60), depresión RD=1,73(1,33-2,24), intento de suicidio RD=1,85(1,20-2,85), impulsividad RD=3,48(2,85-4,26), comportamiento violento RD=4,64(3,57-5,58), problemas en la escuela RD=2,46(1,97-3,06); el uso de cigarrillo, alcohol hasta la embriaguez y el uso-adicción a drogas ilegales, se identificaron como factores asociados con valores de p<0,05. Conclusiones: La prevalencia de riesgo de juego patológico es alta para esta población y está asociada con trastornos mentales, consumo de sustancias psicoactivas y problemas en la relación familiar y escolar; esta situación señala la necesidad de generar un despliegue amplio e integral de intervención preventiva y terapéutica para impactar el problema (AU)

Aims: To study the risk of pathological gambling and its possible relation with mental disorders and school and family problems in a population of school pupils from the city of Medellin (Colombia), with a view to providing guidance for mental health care. Method: Cross-sectional study; sample comprises 3486 students aged 10to 19 years selected from all the educational institutions in the city. The sample is probabilistic and represents an estimated population of 290,000young people from Medellin. The SOGS instrument (South Oaks Gambling Screening) was used for screening risk and likelihood of problem gambling. The analytic stage assessed possible associated factors such as mental disorders, alcohol use and drug use, with statistical significance levels of 5% and prevalence rates with 95% confidence intervals. Results: A total of 48.6% were without problems, 37.6% were at risk and 13.8% were possible pathological gamblers. Males were more at risk than females (2.5:1), and the highest proportion of possible pathological gamblers was in the 10-14 age group (58.7%), vs. the 15-19 group (41.3%).Pathological gambling in young people is associated in this study with: anxiety OR=2.1(1.69-2.60), depression OR=1.73(1.33-2.24), suicide attempt OR=1.85(1.20-2.85), impulsivity OR=3.48(2.85-4.26), violent behavior OR=4.64(3.57-5.58), and problems at school OR=2.46(1.97-3.06); recent use of cigarettes, drunkenness and illegal drugs (use/addiction) were identified as associated risk factors, p value: <0.05. Conclusions: Pathological gambling risk is high in this young population, and is associated with mental disorders, use of psychoactive substances, and school and family problems. This situation suggests the need for larges cale and comprehensive preventive and therapeutic intervention measures for addressing the problem (AU)

Exposure to violence against a family member and internalizing symptoms in Colombian adolescents: the protective effects of family support.

Associations between exposure to serious violence against a family member and internalizing symptoms, and the protective effects of support from family versus friends, were examined in 5,775 adolescents (50% female; mean age = 15.2 years, SD = 2.0) with data from a national, random household survey of residents in Colombia, South America. After accounting for the effects of age, gender, and family life events other than violence, support from family buffered the relations between exposure to violence and adjustment; this relation was strongest for girls and younger adolescents. Disclosure to friends appeared to be protective for younger adolescents but harmful for older adolescents, and this relation was only observed for hopelessness. Results are discussed in terms of cognitive processing models of adjustment to violence.