Profile of Compulsive Gamblers in Treatment: Update and Comparisons

This study profiles demographic, gambling, & psychosocial characteristics of 186 pathological gamblers (172 male, 14 female) admitted for inpatient treatment at a private psychiatric hospital. Subjects were relatively young, mostly employed, with significant debts & legal problems, overrepresented by Catholics & Jews, underrepresented by females & ethnic minorities, & addicted to many forms of gambling. Attempted suicide was reported by 17% of the sample & 8% reported a parental suicide attempt. Some tentative findings regarding female pathological gamblers are discussed along with comparisons of this inpatient group with pathological gamblers found in the VA system & self-help programs. (21 refs.)