A Psychological Autopsy Study of Pathological Gamblers who Died by Suicide

By examing a series of 17 suicides with evidence of pathological gambling prior to death, the authors sought to generate hypotheses for the further study of this problem. Psychological autopsy interviews were conducted with proxy respondents for suicide & control subjects aged 15-59 years in Hong Kong. Of the 150 suicides & 150 controls examined, 17 suicides & 1 control case met criteria for a diagnosis of pathological gambling. All 17 suicides with pathological gambling had unmanageable debt at the time of death. 14 cases had other associated mental disorders, most often major depressive disorders & substance use disorders. None had ever received psychiatric treatment. Pathological gambling is a modifiable risk factor for which means to enhance case identification & engagement in treatment are urgently needed. (24 refs.)