A Prospective Study of Problem and Regular Nonproblem Gamblers Living in the Community

Abstract

Little is known about the life course of gambling problems and there have been no prospective studies of problem gambling. This article describes a study of 77 problem gamblers and 66 nonproblem gamblers recruited from a national prevalence survey in New Zealand in 1991 and reassessed in 1998. While most 1991 problem gamblers were nonproblematic at follow-up, a significant minority had developed more serious problems. Multiple logistic regression analysis identified more severe gambling problems, hazardous drinking, and a preference for track betting as the strongest independent predictors of subsequent problem gambling. These findings contradict conventional notions that pathological gambling is invariably a chronic or chronically relapsing disorder. The findings have implications for the interpretation of previous research, conduct of future research, and problem gambling policy and treatment.

• Pathological gambling
• Prospective research
• Diagnosis
• Relapse
• Remission
• Hazardous drinking

Resumen

No se sabe mucho acerca de la razón de los problemas del juego y no ha habido todavía estudios prospectivos sobre del juego problemático. Este artículo describe un estudio de 77 jugadores con problemas y 66 jugadores sin problemas recrutados de una encuesta de frecuencia nacional llevada a cabo en Nueva Zelanda en 1991, y vueltos a evaluar en 1998. Aunque la mayoría de los jugadores con problemas de 1991 no resultaron problemáticos en el momento de la segunda evaluación, una importante minoría había desarrollado problemas más serios. El análisis de regresión logística múltiple identificó a los problemas de juego más serios, el beber peligrosamente y una preferencia por las apuestas de carreras como las predicciones independientes más fuertes de problemas del juego subsiguientes. Estos hallazgos contradicen las nociones convencionales de que el juego patológico es invariablemente un trastorno crónico o con recaídas crónicas. Estos descubrimientos tienen implicaciones para la interpretación de investigaciones previas, el desarrollo de futuras investigaciones, y la política y tratamiento del problema del juego.

Résume

On sait peu de choses de l'évolution dans le temps des problèmes de jeu pathologique et aucune étude prospective n'a été menée sur le sujet. Notre rapport présente une étude de 77 joueurs à problèmes et 66 joueurs n'ayant pas de problème de jeu, recrutés lors d'un sondage national de prévalence en Nouvelle-Zélande en 1991 et ré-examinés en 1998. Quoique la plupart des joueurs à problèmes de 1991 ne souffraient plus de ces problèmes au ré-examen, une minorité de proportion significative connurent des problèmes plus graves encore. Une analyse de régression logistique multiple identifia des problèmes de jeu accrus, la consommation d'alcool à risque et une prédilection pour les paris aux courses comme les plus forts indices indépendants de problèmes de jeu ultérieurs. Ces résultats contredisent les croyances conventionnelles selon lesquelles le jeu pathologique est invariablement un désordre chronique ou à récurrence chronique. Ces résultats ont des répercussions sur l'interprétation d'études passées, la conduite des recherches à venir et sur les politiques concernant les problèmes de jeu ainsi que leur traitement.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Max W. Abbott

Max Abbott, Ph.D., is Dean of the Faculty of Health at Auckland University of Technology (AUT). He is also Professor of Psychology and Public Health and Director of the Centre for Gambling Research within AUT's National Institute for Public Health and Mental Health Research and Deputy Chair of Waitemata District Health Board. The Board is a major provider and purchaser of health services including alcohol and drug services for the greater Auckland region. He has previously been Director (CEO) of the Mental Health Foundation of New Zealand (1981–1991) and President of the World Federation for Mental Health (1991–1993). He was Co-Chair of the first World Mental Health Day in 1992. Honors include the New Zealand Psychological Society's inaugural biennial award for psychology in the public interest (1984) and the 1990 New Zealand Commemoration Medal for services to New Zealand society.Professor Abbott's early research was on assessing alcohol use-related cognitive impairment and its impact on treatment participation and outcome. In 1991 he completed, with Rachel Volberg, the first national pathological gambling prevalence survey. Since then he has retained an involvement in problem gambling research, alongside research on migrant adaptation and health and other areas within public health and mental health. Although he has over 180 publications, Professor Abbott considers his major contributions to be to advocacy, community development, and public sector management. Apart from work his time is mainly spent with his three sons (ages 8, 11, and 14), gardening and enjoying (in moderation) quality New Zealand wine.

Maynard M. Williams

Maynard M. Williams, M.Sc., is a Senior Research Fellow/Biostatistician in the Faculty of Health, Auckland University of Technology. He has presented at national and international conferences and authored some 25 publications in diverse areas that include low back pain, gambling, trauma, migrant adaptation and health, and sports medicine. The major focus of Maynard's current research is the Pacific Island Families Study, a longitudinal investigation of a cohort of some 1400 infants born in Auckland, New Zealand during the year 2000. He is married with two sons (aged 20 and 25) and a daughter (22), and is an enthusiastic golfer presently chasing an elusive single figure handicap.

Rachel A. Volberg

Rachel Volberg, Ph.D., President of Gemini Research, Ltd., has been involved in research on gambling and problem gambling since 1985. She has directed or consulted on over 50 studies carried out in the United States, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, and Sweden. In 1998 and 1999, Dr. Volberg was a coinvestigator on three national studies of gambling and problem gambling in the United States, New Zealand, and Sweden. Dr. Volberg has served as Principal Investigator or as a consultant on five studies of problem and pathological gambling funded by the (U.S.) National Institutes of Health. Dr. Volberg has published extensively, presented at national and international conferences, and testified before legislative committees in states and provinces throughout North America. She has served on the Board of Directors of the (U.S.) National Council on Problem Gambling for 10 years. Dr. Volberg is married with one daughter (aged 8).